The Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) has released P1.4 billion in emergency shelter assistance (ESA) to local government units (LGU) in Western Visayas for the survivors of Typhoon Yolanda.
Under the guidelines, beneficiaries of the ESA are families who have no permanent source of income or whose income is below the poverty threshold of the region; those whose houses were either partially or totally damaged and who have not received a similar assistance from other agencies or non-government institutions.
Likewise, regular employees of government and private corporations with salary below P15,000 are also eligible provided they are included in the master list of DSWD-Disaster Assistance Family Access Card (DAFAC).
DSWD Secretary Corazon Juliano-Soliman also upheld the DSWD stand on not including those receiving a salary of more than P15,000 because they have the capacity to rebuild their houses.
On the other hand, those living in danger zones are also not included as beneficiaries, because they are being assisted by the Housing and Urban Development Coordinating Council (HUDCC).
A total of P10,000 shall be given to families whose houses were partially damaged, while P30,000 will go to those whose houses were totally destroyed.
Breakdown
In the province of Aklan, the municipality of Libacao received P109.6 million for the 3,655 families with totally damaged houses.
In the province of Antique, the town of Culasi got P109.4 million for the 7,228 families with totally and partially damaged houses.
In the province of Capiz, the town of Panay received P173.6 million for 5,787 families with totally damaged houses; Pontevedra got P43.5 million for 4,357 families with partially damaged houses; while Tapaz got P69.4 million for 6,311 families with partially damaged houses.
In the province of Iloilo, the town of Sara received P240.4 million for 8,015 families with totally damaged houses; Lambunao, P72.5 million for 7,250 families with totally damaged houses; Ajuy, P9 million for 300 families with totally damaged houses; Concepcion, P18 million for 600 families with totally damaged houses; and Estancia, P9 million for 300 families with totally damaged houses.
In the province of Negros Occidental, P93.8 million was released for 7,178 beneficiaries with both totally and partially damaged houses .
DSWD urged the other LGUs which have not submitted their supporting documents to complete these so that the Department could immediately download the ESA funds to them. In Iloilo, there are still 14 towns which have not submitted their validated list and documents; four in Aklan; one in Antique; three in Capiz; and four in Negros Occidental.
Dialogue
Meanwhile, DSWD Field Office-VI Director Ma. Evelyn B. Macapobre held a dialogue last week with members of Bayan Muna and Pamanggas – organizations of farmers and fisherfolk – to explain the guidelines on the implementation of ESA.
During the dialogue, Macapobre responded to the issues raised by the two organizations. These included the total scrapping of Memorandum Circular Number 24 or the Guidelines for ESA Implementation in ‘Yolanda’-Affected Areas, swift and immediate release of ESA to all victims of ‘Yolanda,’ additional funds for all ‘Yolanda victims,’ and transparency in the identification of beneficiaries.
Macapobre clarified that all services of the DSWD have eligibility requirements which must be followed.
The implementation guidelines of ESA for the ‘Yolanda’ survivors in all affected areas are spelled out in MC 24, which is the basis for the release of the cash aid and which will be used by the Commission on Audit (COA) in post-auditing releases.
“The Field Office is dependent on how soon the LGUs can submit to us the required documents as specified in MC 24, and fast the funds are released to us,” Macapobre further explained.
Regarding the demand for additional funds for all ‘Yolanda’ survivors, the militant groups said they do not only mean more funds to accommodate the affected families who are not included in the first list submitted; they also want to avail all other DSWD services.
The Director encouraged the protesters to submit their list to their local social welfare and development office so that it can be included in the validation.
DSWD will meet all the six governors in Western Visayas on February 24 to ask for their help in monitoring the LGUs under them in coming up with the validated and official list of affected families.
“This final list should be submitted to DSWD-Field Office on or before March 31 as we intend to consolidate the submission and forward an additional fund request to the DSWD Central Office by April 10,” Dir. Macapobre added.
On the transparency issue in identifying legitimate beneficiaries, Macapobre reminded Bayan Muna and Pamanggas members that it was the LGUs which provided their lists of qualified recipients to DSWD. ###
