Earthquake victims receive P2,000 aid from DSWD

The Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) said on Tuesday that it distributed P2,000 cash assistance to each mall employee and fishermen affected by the 6.8 magnitude earthquake last week. The amount was lower than the agency’s earlier announcement that individuals affected by the earthquake can receive cash assistance of P5,000 to P10,000 through DSWD’s Assistance to Individuals in Crisis Situations (AICS) and emergency transfer programs Of money. Romel Lopez, DSWD spokesperson, explained that AICS beneficiaries could receive cash aid worth P1,000 to P10,000, depending on the severity of the crisis they find themselves in. He also clarified that the injured could receive P5,000 while relatives of the dead could receive P10,000. Lopez said more than 400 employees of the Gaisano Grand Koronadal mall received P2,000 cash each and two boxes of food packets. Some 41 fishermen also received cash assistance of P2,000. —Dempsey Reyes