ITOGON, BENGUET -- The Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) Cordillera disclosed P73.3 million worth of assistance was earmarked for internal displaced persons (IDPs) of the nine barangays of this mining town.
DSWD–CAR reported 1,584 individuals received livelihood assistance equivalent to P31.68 million.
Janet Armas, DSWD–CAR regional director disclosed in a press conference on Thursday the P41.62 million has yet to be released to the remaining 2,081 IDPs.
To recall, a first release of financial assistance was made November 2018 to May 16, 2019.
On May 16 in Barangay Tuding, the sixth release of P20,000 worth of seed capital funds were given to 952 IDPs.
Armas said they conducted basic livelihood trainings led by the Implementing Project Development Office (IPDO) in partnership with the Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) Cordillera wherein they discussed basic book keeping and financial literacy.
DSWD through its Sustainable Livelihood Program (SLP) launched a series of assessment started from September 22 to November 2018 to gather initial information on the possible livelihood assistance that will be provided to the affected families.
On September 15, 2018, more than a hundred people died after a massive landslide occurred in level 070 of Barangay Ucab due to amount of rainfall brought by Typhoon Ompong and on October 30, Typhoon Rosita further aggravated the condition flushing heavy rains to the recovering communities of Itogon.
Department of Environment and Natural Resources also banned all small scale mining activities in all parts of the country resulting to loss of livelihood especially most Itogon residents.