By Argyll Cyrus Geducos
The Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE) said it is ready to dispose P10 million as financial assistance to overseas Filipino workers (OFWs) affected by the onslaught of Typhoon Usman.
(MANILA BULLETIN)
At the post-disaster assessment briefing led by President Duterte in Camarines Sur, Labor Secretary Silvestre Bello III said his department is ready to assist those affected by the typhoon.
"We are ready to dispose of P10 million as financial assistance to OFWs affected by this Typhoon Usman," Bello said Friday, adding that the amount is already to be distributed.
Aside from the assistance, DOLE is also set to give those affected emergency employment for 15 days.
"We are prepared to give 3,000 affected residents of Sagñay and Tiwi... an emergency employment for 15 days which should entitle them to about 3,000 which would amount to about P10 million," Bello said.
"Iyong aming available funds for the OFWs is about P85 million, pero nandiyan na po ‘yung P10 million dala-dala namin para sa mga affected OFWs (We have about P85 million available funds for the OFWs but we now have P10 million ready for those affected)," he added.
In addition, Bello said that the DOLE also have livelihood projects for all those affected. He added that there will be no limit to these projects.
"Wala pong limit Mr. President. Basta kung anong kailangan nung mga affected wor --- residents (There's no limit, Mr. President. Whatever the affected residents need). We are ready to give them the necessary financial assistance Mr. President," he said.
Typhoon Usman brought heavy rains causing floods and landslides in different areas in the regions of Bicol, Eastern Visayas, MIMAROPA, and CALABARZON before 2018 ended.
Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) Secretary Joselito Bautista disclosed during the situation briefing that the department were able to preposition more than 30,000 food packs before the typhoon arrived.
He added that they were also to produce 20,000 non-food items including the malong, hygiene kits, and family kits, among others.
"But at the height of the typhoon, more than 10,000 food packs were distributed; 17,000 plus non-food items were distributed and as of now we have five million on standby fund, intended for immediate assistance," Bautista said.