Philippines doles out cash, food to landslide victims
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The Philippine government has provided emergency shelter assistance (ESA) to the families affected by a landslide in a remote gold mining area in southern Philippines' Compostela Valley.
Presidential Spokesperson Edwin Lacierda said Tuesday the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) has started extending 5,000 pesos (115.74 U.S. dollars) cash assistance and food packs to every victim.
He said the government will also implement a self-employment assistance program through the DSWD for the qualified local residents who were affected by the tragedy.
"For a more long-term assistance, the DSWD will assess if those who have been affected by the landslide are eligible for the self- employment assistance program of the DSWD," Lacierda said in a briefing.
Relocation efforts in the affected areas were intensified with the local government working at the forefront, he said.
The landslide caused by heavy rains buried shanties in a mining area at Compostela Valley before dawn Friday, killing several people and leaving scores of residents missing.
