DSWD readies cash-for-work program for Boracay workers

The Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) in Western Visayas will start soon the cash-for-work program for thousands of Boracay residents, workers and the Aetas.

Rebecca P. Geamala, DSWD regional director for Western Visayas, said she has already asked the central office for an initial P524-million funding for the cash-for-work program.

Prior to the program, the DSWD-WV has also implemented the “Balik Probinsiya” (back to the province) program that Geamala said has benefited around 2,251 workers. Currently, the said program continues alongside the assessment to ensure nonduplication of beneficiaries.

The DSWD spent P5 million for the 2,251 workers.

“The DSWD has enough funds for the entire closure of Boracay. That is guaranteed,” she said. “For the cash-for-work program, each family may be provided with a fee below P10,000 per month, enough to sustain their living.”

The program entails assisting in the rehabilitation of work in this resort island, including cleaning.

Some of the workers came from as far as Manila and the DSWD have paid for their plane tickets going home. The DSWD is also planning to implement a sustainable livelihood program.

NGO alert

MEANWHILE, Terry L. Ridon, a lawyer and former urban poor chief of Duterte, seeks to ensure government assistance to displaced families during the demolition of structures.

“As the President stands firm on the rehabilitation of Boracay, the government should ensure that housing assistance is provided to all ISFs [informal settler families] covered by demolition orders,” Ridon, currently convener of InfrawatchPH, was quoted in a statement issued on May 2.

Ridon said “no demolition without relocation” is among the longstanding presidential policies of the President, which should correspondingly be implemented during the Boracay rehabilitation.

“While we appreciate the commitment of the [Task Force Boracay] that housing assistance will be provided to all affected ISFs, we have yet to see the engagement of relevant agencies into the matter, such as the National Housing Authority [NHA] and the Presidential Commission for the Urban Poor [PCUP],” said Ridon, former party-list representative of Kabataan.

He explained the NHA provides the housing assistance, while the PCUP ensures all protections and entitlements are afforded the affected families.

“Housing assistance should be given a share in the calamity fund that will be used for the Boracay rehabilitation,” he added.

Ridon said housing assistance can include resettlement areas within Boracay to house the island’s low-income communities.

“Many affected ISFs are informal or low-income workers doing various jobs in the island,” Ridon added. “It would be good to provide them housing within the island as they comprise the base of service economy of Boracay.”

Ridon said transitional shelters can be set up by the NHA during the rehabilitation months.

“The NHA has done a good job in the quality of transitional shelters in Marawi,” he added. “Perhaps, they can do the same for all the affected ISFs in Boracay.”