Madridejos gets P71M for shelter, work-for-hire aid

The Department of Social Welfare and Development released P71.7 million for its Emergency Shelter Assistance and Cash-for-Work programs in Madridejos, Northern Cebu, which was affected by supertyphoon Yolanda.

Regional Director Mercedita Jabagat of the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) turned over the check to Madridejos Mayor Salvador dela Fuente early this month.

Of that amount, P66.4 million was intended for the emergency shelter assistance program or ESA while the balance goes to the cash-for-work program or CFW meant to provided temporary employment to 1,250 persons.

Kerwin Macopia, DSWD regional information officer, said Madridejos was the first to submit the complete requirements and the town doesn’t have unliquidated programs.

Under the ESA, Jabagat said typhoon victims would receive financial assistance or materials for the repair of their homes of up to P10,000 for houses that were destroyed and P5,000 for those that were only partly damaged.

Madridejos town has 5,930 houses that were destroyed and 1,425 damaged homes.

The CFW would provide cash to affected families in exchange for their services in rehabilitation work.

Program beneficiaries would be paid the minimum wage for up to 15 days of work.

Jobs include clearing roads of debris, doing repair work on homes and other buildings, planting trees and mangroves, and restoring community facilities, among others.

Australian embassy officials led by Ambassador David Dutton were impressed by how the core programs of the DSWD have helped poor families in the Bicol Region, the DSWD said.