Displaced in Jolo fire get cash assistance

COTABATO CITY: The Department of Social Welfare and Development of the Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (DSWD-ARMM) released on Friday, cash grants to 1,615 internally displaced persons (IDPs) under the Pantawid Pamilyang Pilipino Program (4Ps).

Amir Mawallil, ARMM spokesman, said the beneficiaries were displaced after a fire razed more than 2,000 homes in barangays Busbus and Walled City in Jolo, Sulu on Tuesday.

Mawallil said that aside from the 4Ps grants, the beneficiaries also received P2,000 each under the government’s Unconditional Cash Transfer ( UCT) program.

He said the UCT is a measure to protect residents classified under the no-income sectors who will not benefit from lower income taxes but will be adversely affected by the increase of prices due to the implementation of the imposition of the Tax Reform for Acceleration and Inclusion ( TRAIN) Law.

Laisa Alamia, ARMM executive secretary and concurrent DSWD regional secretary, said the cash grants were given immediately to those affected by the fire.

The extra amount from the UCT will go a long way for the IDPs,” Alamia said.

She said the 1,325 beneficiaries from Busbus and 290 from Walled City in Jolo received a total of P16,484,400 in cash grants.

Daycare and elementary school children will receive P300 each while P500 were given to every high school student displaced by the fire.

Pregnant women who have to undergo prenatal checkups were also given P500 each.

The DSWD-ARMM situation report shows that about 30,000 IDPs are still displaced and are temporarily sheltered in five evacuation centers in Sulu.

The ARMM government, together with the Office of the President, is firm in providing support and assistance to the IDPs.

On Friday, President Rodrigo Duterte was scheduled to visit the IDPs in Jolo and to be present also during the release of cash grants.