Around 25,000 people from three towns affected by the oil spill in Oriental Mindoro are set to benefit from the Department of Social Welfare and Development’s (DSWD) Cash-for-Work (CFW) program.

The DSWD has started its payout activities in the municipalities of Mansalay, Pola, and Bulalacao on May 11, with payouts scheduled for other affected areas in the coming week.

The department has already provided over P313 million in aid to residents of the Mimaropa Region, including family food packs, non-food items, assistance to individuals in crisis situations, emergency cash assistance, and cash-for-work programs.

The participants of the CFW program will receive cash to meet their basic necessities, such as food and water, among others. Each program participant will receive an amount equivalent to their daily regional minimum wage.

The program’s beneficiaries were deployed to conduct various activities such as collecting locally available materials for making improvised oil spill boom and absorbent, establishing barangay or backyard gardens, mangrove rehabilitation, as well as conducting community clean-up drives.

The DSWD’s Disaster Response Management Bureau (DRMB) reported on May 10 that the agency has already provided more than P313 million in aid to the affected residents. The consolidation of the final reports of the CFW beneficiaries from the Field Offices is still in progress.

Payout activities in the municipalities of Gloria, Roxas, Bangabong, Bansud, Pinamalayan, Naujan, Baco, San Teodoro, Socorro, and Victoria, and the City of Calapan are scheduled next week, from May 15 to 19.