Over 300 employed in Cebu’s ‘war on floods’

CEBU CITY – In support of the “war on floods” in this capital city, the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) has employed more than 300 individuals for a 10-day river clean-up and restoration activities.

Leah Quintana, DSWD-Central Visayas public information officer, said Friday the 376 beneficiaries of the Risk Resiliency Program (RRP) of the agency will join the Cebu City government’s “Gubat sa Baha: Limpyo ug Bantay sa Sapa” (War on floods: clean and secure the rivers) this month.

The individuals from different riparian barangays are expected to clean and rehabilitate the rivers of Guadalupe, Kinalumsan, Mahiga, Butuanon, Lahug, and Estero de Parian.

They are hired to improve the condition of the rivers through dredging, clean-up, and setting up of various mitigation measures for 10 days, and they will get compensation equivalent to 100 percent of the regional daily work wage of PHP435.

“They will work together to improve the situation of the rivers through dredging, clean-up, and setting of various mitigation measures,” Quintana said.

Earlier, the DSWD regional field office and the city government implemented the same project for Tagunol Creek and Bulacao River, tapping 128 beneficiaries of the program.

Individuals who are identified as poor in “Listahan” verified by the city government underwent orientation on Aug. 24 and 25 and are waiting for instruction to start their work anytime this month.

RRP is a convergence program that will operationalize the Climate Change Adaptation, Mitigation, and Disaster Risk Reduction (CCAM-DRR) Cabinet Cluster to enable climate and disaster-resilient communities.

The program has two modalities – cash-for-work and cash-for-training – both of which aim to strengthen the adaptive capacities of poor, vulnerable, and disadvantaged families and communities to socio-environmental risk, providing them either a temporary income opportunity in exchange for community work or building their capacities for disaster mitigation and management through livelihood opportunities and skills training. (PNA)