President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. on Saturday led the distribution of government assistance and livelihood to families and fisherfolk affected by the oil spill in Oriental Mindoro.
Along with the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD), President Marcos has so far distributed Php98.6 million worth of family food packs to the families affected by the oil spill in the province.
The chief executive personally led the distribution of various government assistance such as fishing boats, fish smoking machines, water pumps, and vegetable seeds and certified palay seeds to the fisherfolk and residents of Pola.
In its report Saturday to the President during a situation briefing in the municipality of Pola, the DSWD said it distributed 140,728 family food packs out of 187,140 packs it delivered to the province.
The DSWD is distributing and delivering family food packs in tranches and has so far made four distributions to affected communities as of April 14.
The DSWD said it has 46,212 food packs intended for its 7th and 8th distribution schedule.
Oriental Mindoro municipalities that received the government aid include Baco, Bansud, Bongabong, Bulalacao, Calapan City, Gloria, Naujan, Mansalay, Pinamalayan, Pola, Roxas, San Teodoro, Socorro, and Victoria.
The DSWD is also carrying out a cash-for-work program in the government clean-up operations in coordination with the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR).
The DSWD reported that there are more than 25,000 families in 14 towns who are engaged in the program with a total budget allocation of Php190.1 million.
Among the activities being undertaken are oil spill clean-up along the coastlines under the guidance of the DENR, land clearing for communal garden, establishment of barangay and background gardening, hauling and handling family food packs, and clean up and desilting of canals for flood prevention.
President Marcos earlier conducted an aerial inspection of communities affected by the oil spill in the province and joined agencies and local officials in the situation briefing. | PND
