Five barangays of the Typhoon Ruby – stricken city of Borongan in Eastern Samar last week started implementing the Cash-for-Building-Livelihood Assets (CBLA) of the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD). These are the barangays of Sohotan, Bayubay, San Gabriel, Maybacong, and San Pablo.

Lolit Enciso, the Project Development Officer of the DSWD’s Sustainable Livelihood Program (SLP) assigned in the municipality, reported that the community folks are engaged in the repair of small infrastructure facilities, dredging of canals, and in the clean – up of rivers. They will be receiving Php260.00 per day or a total of Php3, 900.00 for a maximum period of 15 days.

SLP Regional Project Development Officer, Hermanito Mangalao, explained that the CBLA is “ a strategy to help affected communities to restore damaged physical and natural assets to re-start and continuously protect their livelihoods. “ For the city alone, the agency allotted more than Php 68 M.

Borongan yesterday, January 12, has just conducted the second community assembly to determine the next set of five barangays which will be recipients of the CBLA and the undertakings it will be having.

There are a total of 17, 547 individuals coming from the 61 barangays of the city who are to benefit from the program.

Mangalao bared that eligible to participate in the program is any member of the affected family, a duly resident of the affected barangay, in good physical and mental condition, and at least 18 years old. He added that only one family member is allowed to be part of this income – generating venture.#