For Yolanda survivors: Cebu City readies exit program

CEBU, Philippines - From free livelihood trainings to financial assistance, super typhoon Yolanda survivors are assured of the Cebu City Government’s help once they leave the Tent City at the South Road Properties (SRP) on March 23.

Yesterday, the Rotary Club of Cebu gave the 54 families in the Tent City a Valentine’s Day treat by giving them free rides at the Kasadya sa SRP carnival from 6 p.m.

And just by showing a coupon, the typhoon survivors, who are mostly from Tacloban City, Leyte, could claim free food worth P75 from any of the booths centers inside the Kasadya sa SRP compound.

“Para ma-enjoy sad nila ang (So they could also enjoy) Valentine’s Day,” said Atty. Jocelyn Pesquera, Tent City committee head.

Pesquera said that before the typhoon survivors leave on March 23, exactly three months since they started staying at the SRP, they would be given free livelihood trainings, anti-human trafficking seminars, and another stress debriefing on Feb. 23 to 24.

Ester Concha, City Department of Social Welfare and Services (DSWS) chief, said that of the 54 families, 10 have expressed intentions to go back to Leyte while the 44 had decided to start new lives in Cebu City.

“Dili nato sila pasagdan (We would not forsake them. For those who want to permanently live here, mangita ta og (we would look for) interventions for them,” said Concha.

The Rotary Club also scheduled a job-matching for the victims on Feb. 26, when their particular skills would be evaluated as to what jobs fit them.

Marc Canton, Movement for Livable Cebu lead convenor, also said the Technical Education and Skills Development Authority (TESDA) would start next week its skills training for the typhoon survivors who have not yet secured any jobs here in Cebu.

“From house-keeping to plumbing, daghan ipang-train nila (they would be trained in many skill sets). (TESDA) is willing to change their modules para magamit sa mga (to suit the) survivors,” said Canton.

Aside from free rides from SRP to City Hall, the trainees would be given free daily meal allowance and stipend, he added.

Concha said that 31 of the 194 individuals who composed the 54 families have already begun working in Cebu City.

She said that one of the survivors is now working as a human resource staff of Shangri-La Hotel in Mactan, while another works as a call center agent; others are now employed in shopping malls and restaurants.

“Most of them are minimum wage earners and ang uban are even (receiving) above minimum wage,” Concha said.

Pesquera further said that the DSWS and the National Housing Authority have also committed to give P10,000 to each family for the reconstruction of their homes.

She said the amount is in response to the appeal of Jocelyn Diaz, 50, who had said she and her family would always be thankful to the Cebu City Government for all the help.

“Nalipay gyud mi og maayo na gitabangan mi ug wala g’yud mi nila pasagdi. Muhangyo lang pud unta mi og financial assistance para sa among kapuy-an diri kay dili na ‘gyud mi mubalik sa Tacloban,” she said said.

Her son has already secured a job at the Mactan Export Processing Zone in Lapu-Lapu City.

The survivors are mostly from Tacloban City, in the different towns of Leyte, and from the provinces of Eastern and Western Samar.— /RHM (FREEMAN)