LEGAZPI CITY, Oct. 13 -- The Department of Social Welfare and Development in Bicol (DSWD-5), through its Disaster Response and Management Division (DRMD), has begun distributing on Monday financial assistance to families affected by Severe Tropical Storm Opong (international name Bualoi) in Masbate province last month.

Claudio Villareal, chief of the DSWD-5's DRMD, said the aid is part of the DSWD's Emergency Cash Transfer (ECT) program, with a total of PHP191 million allocated for a two-day payout intended for families with destroyed houses.

"Each family will receive 75 percent of the regional daily wage (PHP311) multiplied by 33 days, totaling PHP10,263. This fund can be used to purchase necessary materials for house repairs," he said...