The Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) together with the World Bank implemented ECT in the Municipality of Tagudin, Ilocos Sur. It is the second municipality to implement ECT in the entire Philippines to conduct an actual trial designed to test and refine procedures on its operations manual and to evaluate the effectiveness of the project that will uplift the socio-economic conditions of the disaster victims. The study of its impact and effectiveness would help regularize ECT as one of the programs of DSWD.

“Sa panahon ng pandemya ay naging limitado ang galaw lalo na sa payout dahil sa protocols. Inaaral po natin further kung paano natin mas mapabubuti ang Sistema, kaya ‘yung lessons sa pilot implementation sa San Juan, La Union at dito sa Tagudin, Ilocos Sur will be brought to other municipalities kung paano natin itutuloy ang ECT  (During the pandemic, movement was limited especially during payout due to protocols. We are further studying how we can improve the system, that is why the lessons in pilot implementation in San Juan, La Union and here in Tagudin, Ilocos Sur will be brought to other municipalities for ECT’s future implementation),” explained Teresa Pamela Palma, ECT Consultant and World Bank representative.

There were 10,132 affected families by Typhoon Maring  in Tagudin based on the DSWD FO 1 terminal report, hence chosen as target beneficiaries for the ECT implementation in the Province of Ilocos Sur. As of 24 March 2022, 4,939 family beneficiaries have been served for their rehabilitation and recovery after being hit by the said typhoon.

“Ang ECT o kahit anumang budget ay marami po talagang kulang kasi makikita mo pa lamang iyong ibang pangangailangan kaya sana po iyong hindi mabibigyan ay huwag po sumama ang loob. Ang mga hindi mabigyan ngayon ay maaari pong matulungan sa ibang paraan. Kami po sa DSWD ay humahanap po ng makabagong paraan para mas mapabilis na makapagbigay ng tulong. Magtulungan po tayo dahil ang tagumpay ay nakasalalay po sa ating lahat na parte ng isang pamilya (The ECT or any other budget is not enough because you will still see the other needs so I hope those who will not be given now will not be upset. We at DSWD are looking for new strategies to expedite the process in providing help. Let us help each other because the success of it will depend on us as part of a family),” said Regional Director Marie Angela S. Gopalan in her message.

The creation and implementation of ECT in Region 1 by the DSWD FO 1 provides unconditional cash to support the response to, recovery, and rehabilitation of families affected by disasters. The DSWD FO 1 is the first to implement ECT in the entire Philippines. The pilot testing enhanced the operations manual of the program which is  planned to be regularized as one of the programs of DSWD to augment assistance to qualified families affected by disasters. : By Nicole Kasandra A. Lipawen, Information Officer II