Dole gives P120-M worth of cash-for-work aid, assistance to Abra quake victims 

Several buildings in Bangued town were damaged after a 7.0-magnitude earthquake jolted Abra on July 27.

MANILA, Philippines — The Department of Labor and Employment has released over P128 million of cash-for-work aid and financial assistance to residents of areas hit by the magnitude 7.0 earthquake in Abra, Labor Secretary Bienvenido Laguesma said in a statement on Thursday.

Laguesma said the assistance has benefitted 16,526 victims of the strong tremor which struck northeast of Lagangilang, Abra on July 27, claiming 11 lives.

“The bulk of the assistance or over P57 million was mainly coursed through the Tulong Panghanapbuhay sa ating Disadvantaged/Distressed Workers or Tupad,” Laguesma said.

“The remaining part of the fund went to financing our continuing programs such as skills training, government internship program, livelihood and Akap,” he added.

Tupad is the agency’s cash-for-work program used for disaster response while Akap refers to the one-time financial aid given to returning overseas Filipino workers affected by a crisis.

Laguesma said areas covered by the aid program were Ilocos, Cagayan Valley and the Cordillera Administrative Region.

He noted that Ilocos Region got the highest assistance worth more than 72 million, benefitting 7,300 victims while the CAR where Abra — the epicentre of the earthquake — is located, received over P55 million to support 9,190 quake-hit residents.

More than P200,000 in assistance was also given to Cagayan Valley with 36 beneficiaries.

Laguesma said the doling out of cash aid is in line with the President’s instruction to help the residents recover from the tragedy.

“We are sending help to the affected regions as fast as we can,” he added.

JPV