DSWD-National Capital Region Assistant Regional Director Jacel Paguio (3rd from left) leads the ceremonial distribution of cash aid to families affected by a fire in Mandaluyong City while (from left to right) City Social Welfare and Development Officer Baby Pillas, DSWD-NCR Disaster Focal Person Benjie Barbosa, Congresswoman Quenie Gonzales, and Mayor Menchie Abalos look on.

Some 603 families who lost their homes due to a fire that razed Blocks 35 and 36 in Barangay Addition Hills, Mandaluyong City on  November 14 received P3,500 each today as financial aid from the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD).

The 603 families comprised the first batch of the 1,800 family-victims of the fire incident.

For today’s pay out, the DSWD has alloted more than P2.1 million. Pay out for the remaining families will be slated within the week.

DSWD-National Capital Region Assistant Regional Director (ARD) Jacel Paguio led the ceremonial distribution of the financial aid. Mandaluyong City local and barangay executives as well as the head of the City Social Welfare and Development Office (CSWDO) were also present during the ceremonial distribution.

In her short message during the program, ARD Paguio said that DSWD Secretary Judy Taguiwalo has ordered for the prompt provision of cash assistance to the fire victims to help them cope with their situation.

On November 14, a  few hours after the fire was put out, DSWD social workers led by Assistant Secretary Malou Turalde-Jarabe were in the area to assess the needs of the affected families. On the following day,  the DSWD delivered family food packs to the local government of Mandaluyong City which were then immediately distributed to the families.

For her part, Mandaluyong City Congresswoman Quenie Gonzales shared that upon learning of the fire incident, she immediately talked to Sec. Taguiwalo who vowed to provide all the needed assistance.

Congresswoman Gonzales also said that Sec. Taguiwalo has given the go signal for the implementation of the Cash-for-Work (CFW). Families who are interested to be part of the CFW can already enlist with the CSWDO. Each CFW beneficiary will receive P5,400 in exchange for two weeks of work.

Likewise, Mayor  Menchie Abalos coordinated with Sec. Taguiwalo and also thanked the Department for the assistance to the affected families.

Luz Borja, 58, who was one of the recipients of the financial assistance said that the amount can help her family meet their food needs. The Borja family is now staying in a makeshift house along the side walk in Addition Hills while looking for a place to transfer.

There were delays in the distribution of the P3,500 cash assistance because it first had to be ensured that the validated families had been first given relief packs. ###