The Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) 13 (Caraga Region) on Friday facilitated the release of Emergency Cash Transfer (ECT) aid to families affected by Typhoon Tino in Dinagat Islands.

“A total of 6,783 affected families from the different municipalities are set to receive the ECT financial assistance,” the DSWD-13 said.

The ECT is a DSWD emergency response program that provides immediate financial assistance to families affected by disasters.

“This support assists thousands of households in meeting urgent needs like food, temporary shelter repairs, and other essential expenses during recovery,” the agency said.

According to DSWD-13, families whose houses were destroyed during the typhoon will receive PHP10,137 each, while those whose homes sustained damage will get PHP5,232 in assistance.

However, the DSWD-13 has yet to disclose the total number of families whose homes were destroyed or damaged.

Ricky, 36, a resident of Loreto town and father of two, expressed appreciation for the assistance he received from the government.

“My house was damaged when strong winds struck. This assistance is enough to buy the needed materials for the repair,” Ricky, who requested anonymity, said in the local dialect.

He also praised the provincial government and the DSWD for their prompt response during the onslaught of Tino, especially when most of the affected families were in evacuation centers.

In a message to the Philippine News Agency, Governor Nilo Demerey said the ECT assistance provided by DSWD-13 serves as hope and reassurance for the affected families, especially during the recovery period.

“We deeply appreciate the DSWD’s commitment to stand with us during times of calamity, and we look forward to continuing this partnership to strengthen disaster response and resilience in our province,” he said. (PNA)