DUMAGUETE CITY, Negros Oriental, Aug. 14 (PIA) -- A total of 9,968 beneficiaries in Negros Oriental have received ‘Food-for-Work’ program of Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) from July 18 to Aug. 2, 2023.

Of the total 10,668 beneficiaries in Central Visayas, the province logged the highest number of recipients, while Bohol has 500, and 200 from Siquijor.

Each beneficiary received a family food pack after successfully completing their disaster mitigation and preparedness activities amounting to P6.3 million.

The program provides a holistic approach to assist the poor, vulnerable, and disadvantaged communities under DSWD’s Food-for-Work Program for Disaster Mitigation.

Participating beneficiaries are identified as poor families living in disaster-prone areas and members of sectoral groups selected by their respective local government units (LGUs). 

The implementation of diverse disaster mitigation and preparedness activities by the beneficiaries aims to provide crucial assistance to the inhabitants of these areas, particularly those dwelling in low-lying areas.

Engaging in preventive and mitigation measures, such as clearing waterways, tree planting, mangrove planting, canal and creek cleaning, and drainage system repair, proves to be instrumental in significantly reducing the adverse impacts of calamities.

The implementation was also requested by the LGUs, who sought assistance from the DSWD due to the limited resources, urgency, and importance of the activity.

This Food-for-Work Program, implemented through the Disaster Response Management Division in close partnership with the LGUs, aims to extend short-term food augmentation to disadvantaged groups or families and strengthen their relationship through collective and concerted community undertakings. (JCT/PIA7 Negros Oriental with reports from DSWD)