CARE and LCDE’s livelihood assistance in Basey, Samar
March 14, 2014 CARE cash grants in Barangay Mabini. |
BASEY, SAMAR – As part of CARE
and LCDE’s (Leyte Centre for Development) continued assistance to the victims
of Typhoon Haiyan (Yolanda), have
begun livelihood intervention projects in selected communities in Basey, Samar.
CARE is an international organization
that sees action across the world that range from emergency relief operations
to rehabilitation programs. Since Haiyan struck, CARE has been working closely
with LCDE serving as its local counterpart, to conduct relief missions to
affected communities all across Eastern Visayas. LCDE is a local NGO based in
Palo, Leyte which focuses on disaster response and risk management, and has
been involved with various relief activities with CARE and various
international organizations since the time when the typhoon hit the region. At
the present both organizations have now transitioned to rehabilitation
projects.
CARE and LCDE are currently
engaged in livelihood assistance programs that will encompass 10 barangays and
18 sitios in Basey, Samar with LCDE field staff conducting the program. The project
will be composed of multiple phases; with the first being cash grants worth
three thousand pesos (3,000 php) to selected beneficiaries with the help of
OCCI a local cooperative bank. This will be the basis on what the following
phases will be comprised of. Beneficiaries were selected according to a
criteria that’s assesses the households source of income per month and
vulnerabilities (disabilities, pregnant women, etc.).The project started on
March 10, 2014 and is expected to be completed at May 27, 2014.
Cash grants have been completed
in Barangay Mabini for 358 households, other sitios that are slated for the project are Sitio Can-umran,
Cambabang, Rono, Rizal, and Guinpongduan.
Beneficiaries falling in line in Barangay Mabini. |
Alfredo Abgao, is 48 year old
farmer from Barangay Mabini with 5 children and says “The cash grant from CARE
and LCDE is really a big help for me and my family as I have five children who
depend on me, I will also use the money I received to buy palay seeds,
fertilizer and farm tools”. People interviewed in the community mirror his story, with many
of them earning barely enough to support their families. Such is the situation
that is prevalent Basey which is why it immediately became one of LCDE and
CARE’s priority areas for livelihood intervention.
By: Carlo Jerusalem
LCDE Advocacy Officer