Daanbantayan to give typhoon aid by batch

CEBU, Philippines - Daanbantayan town is set to release the emergency shelter assistance (ESA) to the beneficiaries by batch to ensure that everything is in accordance with the “new” guidelines set by the Department of Social Welfare and Development.

Mayor Augusto Corro, who announced this development during a press conference on Wednesday, said the Yolanda-hit town is now preparing the payrolls for the first batch.

He said the first batch will be composed of recipients with unquestionable qualifications.

Corro said he found out that the master list submitted to the DSWD have “defects” and should be subjected to revalidation.

He disclosed that there were recipients on the list whose houses were declared destroyed when the damage was just actually “partial.”

 “Naa’y palusot ba. Naa po’y way balay before Yolanda pero nagkabalay (after), naa pa’y ESA. Ikanselar unta ‘na,” he said.

Yolanda survivors whose houses were damaged will receive P10,000 while those whose homes were destroyed will get P30,000.

Daanbantayan has received P425.8 million ESA for its 16,678 beneficiaries, more than 3,000 of whom had their houses “partially” damaged while 13,000 had destroyed houses.

The mayor explained that coming up with the list for the first batch was done in a thorough process that went through the “municipal link” under the DSWD. The initial list was then posted in conspicuous places for the residents to comment.

Corro stressed he wanted the ESA released the “soonest” time possible but in a proper manner.

“Careful g’yod ta ani. Makiha nuon ko ani if di nako tarungon. I’m going to do it properly. Mo-distribute g’yod ko. Ang first batch kato g’yong kwalipikadong kwalipikado. Katong naa’y questions, atong ipa-revalidate,” he told reporters, adding that the total amount of the ESA will be accounted for “even until the last cent.”

While it wants to release the ESA in adherence to the guidelines, the town also opposed the provision that excludes from being beneficiaries those living in the danger zones.

The mayor contended that even though a housing and resettlement fund was earmarked by the national government for residents living in unsafe zones, the housing project is not available yet, and it would be “unfair” for the affected residents who had spent much to rebuild houses on their own.

“But we will set condition nga sa panahon naa na’y ikahatag nga balay para nila, mobalhin sila,” he said.

The town will also seek approval from the DSWD for the inclusion of those qualified residents but not included in the original master list as beneficiaries of the ESA.  (FREEMAN)