CARE and LCDE’s livelihood assistance in Basey, Samar

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