The Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) in Field Office MIMAROPA has initiated the distribution of cash assistance to support the full recovery of formal and informal fisherfolk affected by the Mindoro oil spill.
The DSWD began the cash payout on June 1 as part of its emergency response and early recovery efforts under the Emergency Cash Transfer (ECT) Program.
In Roxas, Oriental Mindoro, 233 fisherfolk with motorized boats received the cash aid, marking the start of the payout process.
The ECT program aims to benefit approximately 14,291 individuals from both the formal and informal fishing sectors in Oriental Mindoro who were impacted by the oil spill.
The distribution of funds, totaling more than P127.7 million, will take place this month in accordance with President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr.'s directive to provide ongoing assistance to the affected population.
DSWD Spokesperson Asst. Secretary Romel M. Lopez emphasized that financial aid is intended to help the affected individuals restore their lives to normalcy following the oil spill incident.
“While the province is slowly returning to normalcy, the Department continues to provide various interventions, including the provision of family food packs and cash assistance, to the oil spill-affected fisherfolks as part of its early recovery and rehabilitation phase,” Asst. Secretary Lopez said.
Recent water and fish laboratory tests conducted by the Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources (BFAR) indicate that fishing activities can now resume in the water areas of Bongabong, Roxas, Mansalay, Bulalacao, Puerto Galera, Baco, and San Teodoro, as they meet acceptable standards.
