A single disaster may affect hundreds or thousands of families, but each family has different needs — depending on their location, occupation, household income, and other factors. For instance, a farmer may need an alternative livelihood source after a typhoon; on the other hand, a mother may opt for financial assistance to buy groceries and medicines.
Because of these varying needs, one of the interventions provided by the Department of Social Welfare and Developmen (DSWD) is the Cash Transfer and Cash Voucher to Affected Families in Emergencies or CTCVAFE.
In this article, we will take a closer look at this program — what it is, its objectives, components, pilot areas, and other details. Keep on reading to learn more about the CTCVAFE!
What is CTCVAFE?
Cash Transfer and Cash Voucher to Affected Families in Emergencies (CTCVAFE) is a DSWD model of intervention that aims to provide appropriate and timely response to the varying needs of families affected by natural or human induced disasters. Assistance is given in the form of a cash transfer or a cash voucher instead of food commodities, so that families would be able to purchase their varying and prioritized needs.
Objectives of the Program
The CTCVAFE program aims to achieve the following objectives:
- Enable families to meet their minimum food needs and non-food needs during emergencies or disaster situations;
- Capacitate and enhance the problem-solving and decision-making skills of affected individuals and families through the use of cash transfers or cash vouchers;
- Enable affected families to undertake productive activities for economic recovery, in addition to meeting their day to day basic needs; and
- Establish community monitors and create an atmosphere of community action in response to their early recovery.
Target Beneficiaries
The target beneficiaries of the CTCVAFE program are individuals and families affected by natural or human induced emergencies.
Components of the Program
The three main components of the CTCVAFE program are:
1. Capability Building
This involves the training of implementers, partners, beneficiaries, community leaders, and volunteers with regard to organization building, project management implementation, and monitoring of beneficiaries’ compliance to the agreement on the use of cash interventions.
2. Provision of Cash Interventions
Cash transfers and cash vouchers will be given to affected families. These will serve as an alternative to the regular family food pack, which are usually given during relief operations.
3. Advocacy, Networking, Collaboration, and Mobilization
This component involves the collaboration and networking of the inter-agency committee, which is a continuing activity in all phases of the project implementation.
Pilot Areas
The pilot areas of the CTCVAFE program include select areas of Regions V, VIII, and XII. These are areas that are frequently visited by natural disasters or human induced emergencies.
Notably, the 2014 DSWD Region XIII Annual Report stated that the CTCVAFE pilot area in the region — Pikit, North Cotabato — had successfully completed the project, in coordination with LGUs, project partners, and the leaders of Barangay beneficiaries.
Eventually, the success of the pilot implementation had led to the replication of CTCVAFE in other parts of the country.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
Meanwhile, here are some frequently asked questions — and answers — about the CTCVAFE program:
1. What is CTCVAFE?
CTCVAFE stands for “Cash Transfer and Cash Voucher to Affected Families in Emergencies,” a DSWD model of intervention that seeks to provide appropriate and timely response to the various needs of families affected by natural or human induced disasters.
2. Who are its target beneficiaries?
The target beneficiaries of the program are individuals and families affected by natural or human induced emergencies.
3. What are its components?
The three (3) main components of CTCVAFE are: (a) capacity building; (b) provision of cash interventions; and (c) advocacy, networking, collaboration, and mobilization.
4. Where are the pilot areas?
The pilot areas of the program include select areas of Regions V, VIII, and XII that are frequently visited by natural disasters or human induced emergencies.
5. How can I learn more about it?
You can learn more about the CTCVAFE program by going to the nearest DSWD Office in your city or municipality.
Contact Information: Social Technology Bureau
If you are based in the National Capital Region (NCR) and you have questions and concerns about the CTCVAFE program, you can get in touch with the Social Technology Bureau (STB), which is located at the DSWD Central Office in Quezon City. This office is open from Mondays to Fridays, between 8:00 am and 5:00 pm.
Address: Social Technology Bureau, 3rd Floor, Matapat Building, Department of Social Welfare and Development – Central Office, IBP Road, Constitution Hills, Batasan Complex, Quezon City
Telephone: +632 8951 7124 / 8951 2802 / 8931 8144
Email: soctech@dswd.gov.ph
Website: https://stb.dswd.gov.ph/
Google Map:
Infographic About the Program
Here is an infographic of CTCVAFE featuring basic information about the program:
Final Thoughts
Without a doubt, programs such as the CTCVAFE can better address the varying needs of individuals and families affected by disasters. After all, some of them may need urgent medicines, while others may need support capital for their affected businesses. Through the CTCVAFE, the specific needs of these disaster-affected families can be addressed.
Aside from the CTCVAFE program, the DSWD offers other “social technologies” for victims of disaster as well as internally displaced persons (IDPs). First, there’s the Team Balikatan Rescue in Emergencies or “TeamBRE” — a project that mobilizes fisherfolk for rescue and evacuation of affected families during calamities. This project was created to help families that are located in coastal barangays and other disaster-prone areas. Check out this link to know more about this project.
Secondly, there are Women-Friendly Spaces (WFS) — these are facilities or structures established in evacuation camps, transitional sites, or communities. These are built to address the needs of women during crisis situations, offering services such as psychosocial support, reproductive health services, life skills training, and cash-for-work initiatives. The WFS also serves as a safe and confidential entry point for cases of gender-based violence (GBV). Learn more about WFS through this link.