Around 213 Typhoon Yolanda survivors received their P5,000 financial assistance from the Office of the President today. The cash assistance was distributed by Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD)-Field Office VIII.
DSWD OIC-Undersecretary for Operations-Protective Services, Hope V. Hervilla, witnessed the distribution on behalf of DSWD Secretary Judy Taguiwalo.
It can be recalled that on November 8, 2016 on the 3rd year commemoration of Typhoon Yolanda, President Rodrigo Duterte vowed to provide cash assistance to Typhoon Yolanda survivors who were not included in the list of beneficiaries of the Emergency Shelter Assistance (ESA). They then raised their issue with Sec. Taguiwalo who subsequently relayed their appeals for help to Pres. Duterte.
OIC-Usec Hervilla lauded those who stood up and fought for their rights.
“Ito ang administrasyong may tunay na malasakit sa mga mahihirap (This is the administration which has genuine compassion for the poor) Although this is just a small amount, this will compensate for the three long years that you have patiently waited for an answer, “OIC-Usec Hervilla stated.
“We are pleased that the government responded to your call. These funds come from no less than the Office of the President, ” she added.
However, she emphasized that the government cannot give the P10,000 (for partially damaged houses) and P30,000 (totally damaged houses) ESA since these are not included in the government’s budget for this year.
About 1,841 individuals from Tacloban City have been listed by an alliance of people’s organizations formed by the typhoon survivors, but the number was trimmed down after careful validation.
Meanwhile, DSWD-Field Office VIII Director Restituto Macuto explained that some of the survivors have already availed of government shelter assistance, while others were put into double entry in the list.
The 213 recipients of the financial aid come from Barangays 60-A, 65, 66, 67, 68, 69, 70, and Utap.
Listed as eligible beneficiaries for the cash assistance under the Presidential Assistance guidelines are heads of qualified households, and those in the list endorsed by people’s organizations on or before the third year anniversary of Yolanda when Pres. Duterte announced the P5,000 aid.
Asked how long will it take for the remaining claimants from other areas of the region to receive the cash aid, Usec. Hervilla said that it will take three to six months, since the validation of households is ongoing.
She added that the P1B allotted by the Office of the President for the 200,000 claimants for the region and three other regions (Regions VI, VII and N.I.R.) do not include funds needed to hire additional workers to go around the different localities to facilitate speedy validation of all the affected households.
She pledged to do everything possible to hasten the process reiterating the Department’s “Maagap at Mapagkalingang Serbisyo” slogan. #
