Some 50 fishermen of the coastal barangays of Barangays 88 to 90 of San Jose District in Tacloban City have started receiving cash subsidies and other incentives, as they continue to perform their commitments to the DSWD’s Team Balikatan Rescue in Emergency (TEAMBRE) Project.

Lolit Dadap, DSWD focal person, bared that the group of fishermen – volunteers are now enjoying cash incentives, even while undergoing trainings, like the recent ten – day activity dubbed as the Community Action Disaster Responses (CADRE) for the first batch of 28 volunteers, held in Caluwayan in Marabut, Samar.  “We are continuously capacitating these volunteers with the appropriate knowledge, attitude, and skills in project implementation,” said Dadap.

She explained that the project was meant for fishermen because they are the most affected by disasters, in terms of income source and risk of lives.  Dadap added that now that typhoon months are here, the agency has planned out interventions or support services or alternative sources of livelihood as they become jobless during this season.

As of to date, the beneficiaries have received each Php193.50/per day for a total number of 30 days thru cash for work, which include disaster mitigation activities like dredging of canals and cleaning of the shores.

Just this week, 15 children of the TEAMBRE volunteers, who qualified for educational assistance, received their allowances amounting to Php2,500.00 for the College students, and Php 1,250.00 for the High School students.  Said Dadap, three are in College while the rest are in secondary education.

DSWD Regional Director, Remia Tapispisan, meanwhile revealed that these students will be getting additional allowances, with the recent release of Php67,000.00 of DSWD Central Office to the region.  She added that Region Eight is lucky to be one of the two regions piloted for this project, the other one being CARAGA Region.