The Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) has recently released an additional P391 million in Emergency Shelter Assistance (ESA) for families whose houses were damaged by Typhoon Yolanda in four municipalities in Aklan, one in Iloilo, and another in Negros Occidental.

Of the amount, P15.1 million was released for 505 families in Lezo, P10.7 million for 358 families in Tangalan, P5.5 million for 184 families in Nabas, and P16.9 million for 566 families in Ibajay all in Aklan.

Meanwhile, P242.3 million was transferred to the local government unit (LGU) of Carles, Iloilo for 8,079 families while P100.2 million was released to the LGU of Sagay City, Negros Occidental for 3,342 families.

The LGUs will schedule and conduct the distribution of the cash assistance to their constituents while the DSWD will be monitoring the release of the funds to the beneficiaries.

DSWD will give priority to families with totally damaged houses whose incomes are below P15,000 and those who have not received shelter assistance from local or international organizations. They will receive P30,000 each.

ESA provides cash assistance of P30,000 and P10,000 to families whose houses were partially or totally damaged, respectively.

To date, the Department has already released a total of P2.5 billion ESA funds in Western Visayas region covering the following LGUs:

Aklan
Libacao, Lezo, Tangalan, Nabas, Kalibo, and Ibajay

Antique
Culasi, Pandan, and Tibiao

Capiz
Pontevedra, Roxas City, Panay, Tapaz, and Pilar

Iloilo
Ajuy, Concepcion, Lambunao, Sara, Alimodian, Cabatuan, San Rafael, Estancia, and Carles

Negros Occidental
Manapla, EB Magalona,and Sagay City

ESA provides cash assistance to families whose houses were partially or totally damaged by ‘Yolanda’ for the purchase of construction materials to repair or reconstruct their homes.  It is intended for families who have not received any shelter assistance from the government or private sector. ###