A total of 3,019 Typhoon Paeng-hit families from Maguindanao, Aklan, Capiz, and Antique received cash assistance from the Philippine Red Cross (PRC) to help with their recovery.

"Ipangbibili ko po ng abono at corn seeds 'yung pera na matatangap ko mula sa Red Cross kasi po ngayong buwan [March] na po ang simula ng first season ng pagtatanim ng mais dito sa'min. 'Yung matitira naman po ay gagamitin namin sa pang araw-araw po naming gastos (I will buy fertilizer and corn seeds with the money I receive from the Red Cross because this month [March] is the beginning of the first season of corn planting in our area. We will use what is left over for our daily expenses)," said 60-year-old corn farmer Adelino Guiy in an interview with PRC.

In an event held last March 15, the family beneficiaries each received a one-time multipurpose cash grant worth P5,000.

Courtesy of Philippine Red Cross

Assistance amounting to P15 million was distributed to the families on top of the P23.4 million aid dispensed last October, PRC noted in a statement on Monday, March 20.

The initiative was in partnership with the International Committee of the Red Cross and the International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies.

A PRC "Bakuna Bus" was also deployed at one of the distribution sites to vaccinate and give booster shots to the beneficiaries, PRC said.