BORACAY ISLAND, Aklan -- A total of 1,323 residents and workers affected by the Boracay closure on Thursday received livelihood assistance from the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) 6.
They were among the first batch of recipients under DSWD’s sustainable livelihood program (SLP) in Boracay.
DSWD Acting Secretary Virginia Orogo, who was here on Thursday, said a total of PHP250 million was allocated for the implementation of the SLP here.
For the first batch, a total of PHP19.8 million was released by DSWD.
Each recipient received PHP15,000 grant, which they could use as initial capital for their start-up businesses, said Orogo during a media conference.
Among the recipients were 429 residents of Barangay Balabag, 169 from Barangay Manocmanoc and 115 from Barangay Yapak, as well as members of associations of massage therapists, vendors, tour guides, and boat men, among others, which have been profiled and assessed by the DSWD.
By early June, another 1,000 recipients are also expected to receive livelihood grant from DSWD.
DSWD Undersecretary Malou Turalde said at least 11,000 families are being targeted to be given SLP grants by June 30.
Turalde also clarified that recipients could use a portion of the money for personal consumption, but stressed that majority should be used for livelihood purposes.
All recipients would be monitored by DSWD, she said.
Betty Asong, a recipient from Barangay Balabag, said she would use the money to start a ready-to-wear (RTW) business.
Asong, who used to work as a part time staff of a hotel before the island closed on April 26, said the PHP15,000 grant will enable her to start the business to meet the needs of her family during the six-month closure.
Meanwhile, those who have received transportation assistance from DSWD in Boracay could also avail of assistance under the SLP program in their respective home provinces, said Regional Director Rebecca Geamala.
Geamala added that recipients of transportation assistance are referred to their respective DSWD offices for them to avail of the Balik Probinsya program of the agency.
As of May 30, the DSWD released a total of PHP22.7 million as transportation assistance to 9,405 recipients.
For educational aid, the DSWD has already released PHP1.7 million to 832 clients and PHP593,500 for medical assistance to a total of 155 clients.
Five beneficiaries also received burial assistance from DSWD with released amount totaling PHP25,000.
The support for affected residents and workers due to the shutdown of Boracay’s tourism operation is part of DSWD’s Assistance to Individuals in Crisis Situation (AICS), which forms part of the package under the Protective Services Program.
Meanwhile, the DSWD is targeting to start its cash-for-work program this June.
At present, the department has already enlisted 1,381 from the three Boracay villages. (PNA)
