Some 817 families from Laua-an, Antique whose houses were totally damaged by Typhoon Yolanda received their Emergency Shelter Assistance (ESA) of P30,000 each after the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) released some P24.5 million to the local government unit.

ESA provides P30,000 and P10,000 financial assistance to ‘Yolanda’ survivors whose houses were totally and partially damaged, respectively.

Laua-an Mayor Francisco Baladjay said that the ESA is an added resource for the affected families to continue moving on with their lives.

“I am very grateful for the assistance the government, through the DSWD, has afforded to us. I will ensure that the aid will be put to good use,” Mayor Baladjay said.

Cherryl Aretano, 24, one of the recipients who is in her eight month of pregnancy, said that the assistance will be used to replace their wooden walls into concrete.

“Kami ay gagawa na ng konkretong bahay dahil ito ay mas matibay kumpara sa bahay na gawa lamang sa kahoy para maprotektahan na rin ang aking sanggol at pamilya. Ito ang natutunan namin mula sa nangyaring trahedya na dulot ng ‘Yolanda.’ Ang bahay namin na gawa sa marupok na bagay ay tinangay ng hangin. Ayaw naming mangyari ulit iyon (We will build a concrete house which is more durable than a wooden house to secure my baby and our family. This is the lesson we learned from ‘Yolanda’.  All the light materials were blown by the wind. We do not want this to happen again),” Cheryl added.

The ESA is given to affected families who have no permanent sources of income or whose income is below the poverty threshold of the region; whose houses were partially or totally damaged but are located in safe areas; who are listed in the Disaster Family Access Card (DAFAC); whose heads are not permanent or regular employees and do not have access to housing loans; and whose heads have a fixed monthly salary below P15,000 and have not received the same assistance from other agencies). ###