DSWD still waiting for funds from DBM for northern Cebu

CEBU, Philippines - The Department of Social Welfare and Development-7 assured that they continue to follow-up with the Department of Budget and Management the funds for the rehabilitation projects for typhoon-affected areas in northern Cebu.

“Halos kada adlaw mi nag-follow-up sa remaining funds pero wala pa man,” said Jenny Abastillas, Officer II of the Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Unit of DSWD-7.

Abastillas said that they have been working on the remaining funds to be distributed to the affected families but the DBM is still processing the amount.

DSWD reported that around 455 families in Sta.Fe town, Bantayan Island are still living under tents almost a year after typhoon Yolanda wreaked havoc in the Visayas.

The 455 families include those who were displaced due to the sinkhole that appeared in Sitio Dapdap, Barangay Langub, Kinatarkan Island of the same town. The sinkhole measured 40 by 40 feet which forced officials to evacuate residents living within 500 meters from the sinkhole. 

Abastillas said that there are also some of those affected by the typhoon who prefers to stay in tents.

“Ang uban man gud ani nila kay duna nay kapangitaan nga gamay pero dili pa gyud ana kapaigo nga makabalay,” she said, adding that they are yet to release around P63 million intended for the victims in the said town.

The budget is under DSWD’s P4 billion Emergency Shelter Assistance (ESA) Fund and for the core shelter assistance to typhoon Yolanda survivors in northern Cebu.

DSWD-7 has already released P106,000 to Sta. Fe from the ESA last year and another P5 million this year.

Santa Fe town had 1,791 destroyed houses and 2,536 damaged houses. Families whose houses were destroyed were given P30,000 each while those with damaged houses were given P10,000 each.

DSWD-7 is also set to give P125,725 to Madridejos town, P375,880 for Bantayan Island, P5.6 million for Daanbantayan, P2.2 million for Medellin, P1.3 million for San Remigio, P2.6 million for Bogo City, P138,800 for Borbon, P103, 840 for Tabogon, and P23.7 million for Sogod.

The agency has also allocated P4.9 million for Pilar, P4.4 million for Poro, P9.6 million for San Francisco, and P1.8 million for Tudela.  (FREEMAN)