The Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) on Tuesday released some PHP1.8 million in financial assistance to 120 families belonging to the vulnerable sector in this city affected by the enhanced community quarantine amid the coronavirus disease (Covid-19) pandemic.

The move is under the DSWD’s Livelihood Assistance Grants (LAG) program, wherein a PHP15,000-cash grant was distributed to each family-beneficiary as seed capital for new alternative income-generating activities or certain micro-enterprise ventures.

The DSWD, in partnership with the City Social Welfare and Development Office (CSWDO), conducted the first wave of distribution last Sept. 18 for the first 73 families, while the remaining 47 families received cash grants on Tuesday.

Bernadette Maniago, CSWDO Social Welfare Officer, said that LAG was created to extend assistance to selected low-income families whose livelihoods or jobs were hit hard by the pandemic and are willing to reopen or continue with their livelihood ventures.

The recipients of this program were identified by the CSWDO.

Maniago said the CSWDO selected the beneficiaries by following the eligibility criteria, specifically their inclusion into the list of low-income families, profiled families under the Social Amelioration Card, beneficiaries of the local or national Pantawid Pamilyang Pilipino Program, and families that have existing livelihood or employment during the community quarantine. (PNA)