Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, June 8) – The Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) Province of Sorsogon has provided assistance to affected residents of the Mt. Bulusan eruption through food-for-work intervention program.
The program is helping individuals with affected livelihood find immediate means for food while at the same time assists in hastening community recovery from the volcanic ash mess.
Around 70 registered individuals did volunteer services on Wednesday, the second day of community clean-up drive, in Barangay Puting Sapa which is among the most affected communities caused by the Bulusan eruption.
Some 75 individuals worked during the clean-up drive’s first day of operation the previous day.
“Para malinis po yung barangay, nagpapaano kami na makapagtrabaho sila and at the same time bibigyan sila ng pagkain (To ensure that the barangay will be clean, we give the people the opportunity for livelihood in exchange for food),” provincial social welfare officer Flora Maquiñana told CNN Philippines.
Maquiñana explained they are doing this in order to help the affected communities revive their hometown’s beauty and to make the area livable while helping individuals get access to basic needs.
Each individual received two packs of groceries containing 10 kilos of rice and 20 canned goods.
The food-for-work program is meant to provide immediate support.
“Masaya po kasi makakatanggap ako ng grocery saka bigas siguro yun (I’m happy because I will receive grocery items and rice),” said 34-year-old Junard Bolano, a father of three.
The program, however, found critics in some members of the affected communities.
“Tulad kahapon may isang teacher na nagsalita bakit pinagtatrabaho pa bakit di nalang ibigay yung ayuda?” Maquiñana emphasized. “Kasi iba naman po yung binigay sa evacuation center; ibang program ng opisina namin yung food-for-work.”
[Translation: Yesterday, one teacher complained why people had to be asked to work for the groceries. Why not give the assistance right away? It’s because what’s given in the evacuation center is different from what we’re giving. This is another program of our office and it’s food-for-work.]
DSWD provided face masks to volunteers doing community clean-up.
On its website, DSWD explained that such initiatives, including ‘food-for-work’ program “encourage community participation in implementing a community-defined project related to disaster preparedness, mitigation, response, reconstruction and rehabilitation, including hunger mitigation and food security projects.”
It also generates temporary employment and helps “the affected families and local government units in restoring damaged shelters, infrastructure and community projects as a result of disaster within their locality.”
About 104 families returned to Barangay Puting Sapa after their three-day stay in the evacuation center.
