The World Food Program (WFP) Philippines has partnered with the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) extended P17-million cash assistance to 6,717 families or roughly 33,000 people affected by Typhoon Hagupit (local name: Ruby)particularly in the municipalities of Can-Avid, Dolores, Jipapad, and Taft in Eastern Samar.
Typhoon Hagupit made its first landfall on December 6 in Dolores in Eastern Samar and battered the whole Eastern Samar as its strongest part of the typhoon hit the area. Hagupit was one of the strongest typhoons to pass through the Philippines last year which affected four million people. The four municipalities were identified in WFP Philippines’s post-Typhoon Ruby assessment among vulnerable families enrolled under the CCT program.
Each affected households will receive a one-time add-on amount of P2,600 in addition to their payout in the DSWD’s social safety net program called Pantawid Pamilyang Filipino Program or 4Ps for February. Each family will also receive a month’s supply of rice.
Present during the ceremonial cash-out on February 4 in Dolores, Eastern Samar were DSWD FO Regional Director Nestor Ramos, DSWD Pantawid Pamilya Deputy program Manager Venus Rebuldela, WFP Philippines Country Director Martin Bettelley, Mayors from the four municipalities and the program beneficiaries.
Aside from the cash assistance, DSWD and WFP are helping the families through food assistance in areas in Eastern Samar, Northern Samar and Western Samar.
