VIGAN CITY, Ilocos Sur (PIA) — The city government of Vigan continues its rehabilitation efforts for the victims of Super Typhoon Egay through the Emergency Cash Transfer (ECT) program of the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) which was distributed on Friday at the Vigan Convention Center here.

A total of P57,060,000 was distributed to some 6,143 affected residents – 52 with partially damaged houses who received P9,000, and 6,262 with totally damaged houses who received P13,500 each.

Edralin Rabe, one of the beneficiaries whose house in Barangay Camangaan was left uninhabitable by “Egay”, said in an interview that the assistance their family received will be used to purchase materials for a small hut he is planning to build as their home.

“Inabot ng baha iyong bahay namin, tinangay ng hangin iyong bubong at hindi na pwedeng panirahan pa ulit kaya mula sa tulong na galing sa lokal na pamahalaan, sa DSWD at iba pang ahensya, magtatayo kami ng maliit na kubo para makapagsimula,” he said.

He also expressed his gratitude to the city officials and to the different government agencies who have extended financial aid to his family since the calamity.

Meanwhile, Celerina Agcamaran, city social welfare and development (CSWD) officer of Vigan, explained that the cash assistance came from the DSWD Central Office, distributed through the regional office and to the city government.

She said, “We distributed to the affected individuals assessed by the daycare workers, barangay council, and barangay health workers which were then forwarded to our office, the CSWDO.”

The program, according to Agcamaran, is a part of the rehabilitation efforts of the city government since many residents lost their houses, properties, and livelihoods. (JCR/MJTAB/AMB, PIA Ilocos Sur)