On September 27, 2022, the Department of Social Welfare and Development Field Office 7, UNICEF Philippines, and ECPAT Philippines released Humanitarian Cash Transfer (HCT) Plus transaction reference codes to 1,286 beneficiaries in the towns of Candijay and Valencia, Province of Bohol.

This leg of HCT Plus is funded and supported by the government and the people of New Zealand for the benefit of the Pantawid Pamilyang Pilipino Program partner-beneficiaries affected by the devastation of Typhoon Odette in December 2021.

Each household beneficiary will receive Php 5,000.00 through UNICEF’s partner, RD Pawnshop. Aside from the cash aid, they also went through the HCT’s Plus program, a face-to-face discussion on the importance of the first 1,000 days of life, child health and nutrition, protection, and water, sanitation, and hygiene (WASH) through their Family Development Session (FDS) conducted by their parent leaders prior to the release of codes.

Of the total 1,286 beneficiaries, 764 are from Candijay and 522 from Valencia.

In his message as representative of DSWD Field Office 7 Regional Director Shalaine Marie S. Lucero, DSWD-7 Disaster Response Management Division Project Development Office IV Engr. Aguinaldo S. Jimenez reminded the beneficiaries to use the assistance for the benefit of their children and reminded them of the conditionalities of their 4Ps membership, especially on ensuring that the kids are immunized against various diseases, medically checked regularly, and are attending school.

Meanwhile, UNICEF Ambassador Behzad Noubary expressed that, looking into their experiences in providing assistance, cash has proven to be the best mode of assistance because it is the family that knows best what to do with the money.

He also encouraged the beneficiaries to provide feedback on whether they received the cash or not, its sufficiency and timeliness, and what could be done better based on their experience through an SMS that will be sent by ECPAT Philippines.

DSWD and UNICEF Philippines have been working together to provide assistance to the vulnerable and less advantaged population with children aged 18 and below, lactating and/or pregnant women, children with disabilities, and those suffering from or at risk of malnutrition.

It can be recalled that HCT Plus was also released to identified families in San Isidro, Tubigon, and Bilar, Bohol, from April to July 2022 with the same aim of providing aid to Odette-affected families. ###

(177) Views