SUPPORT FOR DISTRESSED FAMILIES. Some PHP54.4 million in cash grants have been released by the Department of Social Welfare and Development in Caraga to at least 4,745 families under the Sustainable Livelihood Program and Livelihood Assistance Grant during the third and fourth quarters in 2020. The releases were facilitated through the Bayanihan 1 and 2 program of the government. (Photo courtesy of DSWD-13)
BUTUAN CITY – At least 4,745 families in Caraga Region have been granted cash and livelihood grants by the Department of Social Welfare and Development-Region 13 (DSWD-13) since last year.
“A total of PHP54,423,797 cash grants were awarded to said families last year, especially those whose sources of income were severely affected by the implementation of the community quarantines in the region,” DSWD-13 said in a statement Monday.
DSWD-13 said the distribution of Livelihood Assistance Grant to different municipalities in the area started in the third quarter last year under the Bayanihan 1 and 2 program of the government.
Only the major cities and municipalities in the region were prioritized during the Bayanihan 1 due to limited budget, it added. The recipients include Tandag City and Bislig City (August 26) in Surigao del Sur; Bayugan City and San Francisco in Agusan del Sur; the town of San Jose in Dinagat Islands; and Butuan City.
Meanwhile, the agency said 14 municipalities were covered under the Bayanihan 2: Barobo, San Miguel, Bayabas, Hinatuan, and Cagwait Surigao del Sur; Mainit, Claver and Del Carmen in Surigao del Norte; Prosperidad and Trento in Agusan del Sur; Tubay, Nasipit, and Carmen in Agusan del Norte; and Basilisa in Dinagat Islands.
The livelihood assistance under the Bayanihan 2 was released in December last year, DSWD-13 said.
“Other than these areas, there are still recipient municipalities under the 2020 fund that are yet to receive the LAG such as Tagbina, Bislig City, Lingig, Lianga, San Agustin, Cantilan, Cortes, Marihatag, Tago, and Madrid in the province of Surigao del Sur. The remaining 2020-funded grants in these areas by the last week of February,” it said.
The LAG is a financial assistance given to families belonging to the informal sector, particularly those affected by the quarantine measures.
The Sustainable Livelihood Program (SLP), meanwhile, is a capacity-building program aimed to provide the poor, vulnerable, and disadvantaged sectors with various livelihood opportunities while empowering and capacitating them in the process. (PNA)
