NDCC financial aid in Sta. Fe islet questioned

CEBU, Philippines - Residents of Hilantagaan, an islet barangay of Sta. Fe in Bantayan Island, and other barangays in the town’s mainland, lodged a complaint questioning the distribution of financial assistance to the families who are reportedly not affected by typhoon Frank (Fengshen) in June of last year.

Hilantagaan barangay captain Pableo Illut relayed the complaints of his constituents to Cebu fourth district Rep. Benhur Salimbangon who is now seeking proper investigation to the complaints raised.

The congressman said he already received the same complaints last week during the visit of Defense Secretary Gilberto “Gibo” Teodoro, Jr. in Bantayan town.

In an interview over dyLA, Salimbangon said that some of the residents of Sta. Fe claimed that they were included in the list submitted to the Municipal Social Welfare Office. But that there were changes allegedly made to the list without their knowledge. Instead, the residents said, they were replaced and that those included in the new list were not really the ones affected.

These residents informed Salimbangon that they even presented photographs of their houses which were damaged by typhoon Frank last year.

But Salimbangon said that he is only up to making a follow-up at the national office for the release of the P7.5-million financial assistance to typhoon victims in his district. He maintained he has nothing to do with the preparation of the list as this is the work of the social worker of the MSWO of the local government units affected like Bantayan and Sta. Fe and that this list has to be submitted to the regional office of the Department of Social Welfare and Development-7.

Salimbangon said he wants the issue to be properly investigated so to identify the person responsible for such problems and so that proper sanctions could be administered against him/her. He also asked the members of the Sangguniang Bayan of Sta. Fe to initiate the investigation as basis for further action by them.

Teodoro, chairman of the National Disaster Coordinating Council, handed out P6,000 to each family whose house was destroyed and P3,000 to those with damaged houses. He also distributed P10,000 in cash to families with members who died during the onslaught of typhoon Frank. — Jose P. Sollano/MEEV    (FREEMAN NEWS)