DAVAO CITY, July 8 -- The Department of Social Welfare and Development in Davao Region (DSWD-11) said Thursday it has distributed more than PHP3 million in emergency cash transfer (ECT) assistance to families affected by the recent earthquake in Davao Occidental.

A total of 453 beneficiaries received financial aid on July 8 in Barangay Malalan in the town of Jose Abad Santos (JAS). Of these, 163 families with totally damaged houses received PHP10,244 each, amounting to PHP1.66 million, while 290 families with partially damaged houses received PHP5,122 each, totaling PHP1.4 million.

The ECT program forms part of DSWD's early recovery interventions, designed to help disaster-hit families meet immediate needs, begin rebuilding their homes,...