DSWD 7 starts distributing livelihood aid to families hit by ‘Odette’ in Cebu

OFFICIALS of the Department of Social Welfare and Development in Central Visayas (DSWD 7) have started conducting payouts to 2,726 families in Cebu Province who were affected by Typhoon Odette (Rai).

In a statement, DSWD 7 Acting Director Shalaine Marie Lucero said they started conducting their three-day simultaneous payouts to beneficiaries of the Livelihood Settlement Grant (LSG) of the DSWD’s Sustainable Livelihood Program (SLP) in at least two cities and 11 towns in Cebu Province on Wednesday, Aug. 10, 2022.

A total of 2,726 beneficiaries across the province will receive P15,000 each as start-up capital to help them recover from the effects of Typhoon Odette that hit the province on December 16, 2021.

The three-day simultaneous payout covered two cities and 11 municipalities in Cebu: Toledo City, Carcar City, Liloan, Minglanilla, Naga, San Fernando, Carcar, Argao, and Alegria, Aloguinsan, Barili, Dumanjug, Pinamungajan, Barili and Sibonga.

Beneficiaries of the program were selected based on the criteria that they had an existing business or livelihood during the onslaught of the typhoon and were assessed by the SLP to receive the grant by having the capacity to have a profitable and sustained livelihood.

The LSG aims to provide recovery and rehabilitation assistance for small business owners affected by the calamity. It is different from the Livelihood Assistance Grant, which provided start-up capital for individuals during the height of the Covid-19 pandemic.

Beneficiaries of the LAG who have previously received assistance are prioritized for the LSG grant.

SLP intends to distribute a total of P40.8 million to beneficiaries of the livelihood settlement grant throughout Cebu Province. (PR)