BAGUIO CITY- The Department of Social Welfare and Development-Cordillera (DSWD-CAR) will continue to engage internally displaced persons (IDPs) in welfare activities.

DSWD regional information officer Rogerson Dennis Fernandez said the agency provided continuing relief assistance to about 1,164 families who were internally displaced due to recent calamities with totally-damaged houses such as those affected by recent calamities like typhoons.

Of the P881 million allocated by the government for all IDPs in the country this year, the DSWD-CAR is allotting P6.8 million in the region for activities along disaster preparedness, mitigation, relief, and rehabilitation or risk-reduction supportive activities for the families in affected communities.

“This is through ‘cash-for-training’ and ‘cash-for-work’ schemes,” Fernandez said.

Under the program, beneficiaries are expected to undergo training and work in three cycles of 10 days each or a total of 30 days. The first cycle will be devoted to the training activities, while the remaining two cycles will be devoted to work such as restoration of damaged shelters, infrastructures, and community facilities.

Fernandez explained that this program is a developmental approach to welfare as it requires IDPs to be directly involved in the agency’s activities for their rehabilitation.

The program will be managed by the local government units’ social welfare and development offices in coordination with other local partners of the DSWD-CAR.

The rate of assistance will be 75 percent of the prevailing minimum daily wage set by the National Wages and Productivity Commission.

The program for the IDPs will cover the provinces of Abra, Apayao, Benguet, Kalinga and Mt. Province which according to DSWD were hardly hit by recent calamities. (PIO Baguio City/PIA CAR) -