Manila, June 22 -- The Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) is set to begin the rollout of its Emergency Cash Transfer (ECT) program on Tuesday for families affected by the magnitude 7.8 earthquake in Davao Occidental, Sarangani and General Santos City.

Based on initial data, more than 139,000 affected families from Region 11 (Davao Region) and Region 12 (Soccsksargen) are expected to receive ECT, with an estimated allocation of more than PHP799.59 million.

The provision of ECT aid is part of President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr.'s directive to the DSWD to ensure that all families affected by the massive earthquake on June 8 receive timely and adequate government assistance as they recover and rebuild their lives toward norm...