P430-M worth of DSWD aid given to Oriental Mindoro oil spill victims

LOCAL EFFORT. Villagers in Calapan City, Oriental Mindoro collect the oil spill from sunken MT Princess Empress using indigenous booms made of coconut husks, fishnets and jute sacks to protect their coastal resources in this photo taken on April 1, 2023. The oil spill continues to take its toll on the livelihood of local fishermen. (PHOTO COURTESY OF KALIKASAN PEOPLE’S NETWORK FOR THE ENVIRONMENT)

MANILA, Philippines — The Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) on Thursday said it has distributed aid worth P430 million to the victims of Oriental Mindoro oil spill in the affected provinces.

The DSWD’s Disaster Response Management Bureau said this includes cash, food, and non-food assistance.

“The Department has already provided more than [P430] million worth of humanitarian assistance to affected families in the provinces of Batangas, Oriental Mindoro, Palawan and Antique,” said the agency in a statement.

In Oriental Mindoro, Palawan and Antique, 21,046 people received cash assistance through the Assistance to Individuals in Crisis Situation (AICS) program, said the DSWD.

Meanwhile, 183,499 food packs were distributed, worth P125 million, while non-food aid was worth P185,150.

“Aside from outright cash, the DSWD also facilitated the temporary livelihood for affected residents through its Cash-For-Work program that benefitted 21,933 individuals in the provinces of Batangas, Oriental Mindoro and Antique,” said the DSWD.

The Oriental Mindoro oil spill, which started in February, has plunged several provinces into a livelihood crisis due to the consequent fishing ban.

RELATED STORIES:

Owner of MT Princess Empress no-show in House probe

Fishing ban stays in 6 Oriental Mindoro areas; lifted in 7 other towns

JPV/abc