By Ellalyn De Vera-Ruiz
The Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) has proposed a P4.6-billion intervention plan to assist some 274,000 fisherfolk-families being affected adversely by the El Niño.
A rice field shows an early sign of drought as some of its parts begin to dry up at Brgy. Lawang Cupang, San Antonio, Nueva Ecija, January 25, 2019. (FILE PHOTO / MARK BALMORES / MANILA BULLETIN)
The proposed interventions to be implemented within the third quarter of 2019 include the provision of rice subsidy amounting to P1,758,579,200 and cash-for-work assistance totaling P2,794,549,640.
Under the rice subsidy program, a family can avail of one sack of rice at P1,600 per sack for four months.
Meanwhile, the cash-for-work assistance could be accessed by the poor farmers through engagement in productive community works in exchange of cash.
The amount to be given is 75 percent of the current daily regional minimum wage rate and for a 40-day period at 10 days per month for four months.
A part of the P4.6 billion intervention plan is the project management fund amounting to P46,871,160 earmarked for operational expenditures, such as traveling expenses, office supplies, communication, and fuel, among others.
DSWD assures the public that its current capacities to respond to El Niño is still sufficient.
It has a total standby resources comprising of DSWD central office quick response funds, standby funds of field offices, family food packs, and food and non-food items amounting to P2.2 billion, with P1.8 billion allocated to the central office and P441 million allocated to the field offices.
The Department also continues to work with other agencies in monitoring the effects of El Niño in order to identify additional interventions that could be needed.