The Department of Social Welfare and Development’s (DSWD) on Monday reported that its Field Office 5 in Bicol Region have already distributed P4.9 million in livelihood assistance to 245 Bicolano farmers and fisherfolks whose livelihoods were severely affected by the series of typhoons that battered the country recently.

Disaster Response Management Group (DRMG) Assistant Secretary Irene Dumlao said the cash aid given on Friday (29 November) aimed to help in the recovery of those affected by the typhoons and help strengthen local economic activities in the region, particularly in the agriculture and fisheries sectors.

“The DSWD assures our kababayans that all forms of assistance, within the mandate of the Department, shall be provided to them until they attain full recovery,” Dumlao, who is also the agency spokesperson, said.

Each beneficiary from the coastal town of Jose Panganiban, Camarines Norte received P20,000 Livelihood Settlement Grant (LSG) under the agency’s Sustainable Livelihood Program (SLP).

“The provision of the LSG through the SLP is one of the DSWD’s ongoing commitments to empower vulnerable communities and strengthen economic resilience across typhoon-hit areas,” the DSWD spokesperson said. 

The SLP is one of the core programs of the DSWD that provides livelihood assistance to mitigate the impacts of natural or human-induced disasters.