Romualdez: Keep sight on Yolanda aid

CEBU, Philippines - Leyte first district Representative Ferdinand Martin Romualdez told mayors of northern Cebu towns hit by typhoon Yolanda not to lose sight of the emergency shelter assistance from the government that remains undistributed.

“Wa’g kayong mag-give up, tutok pa rin, try to comply, try to seek exception, you need to be creative,” said Romualdez in a press conference.

Romualdez was in Cebu City yesterday to speak before fellow lawyers at the National Convention of the Integrated Bar of the Philippines.

He said even the processing of assistance for widows and families of the 44 fallen members of the Special Action Force  is not exempt from the rigors of bureaucracy.

 “Naintindihan naman natin na kailangan ang mga procedures o may mga protocol pero siguro naman kapag kalamidad, kailangang i-streamline ang requirements,” Romualdez said.

 Romualdez suggested that national agencies concerned like the Department of Social Welfare and Development have to download the funds to the local government units and let the chief executive dispose of the money.

 “Bigay mo sa mga mayors. Sila na hanap ng paraan. Si mayor na ang didiskarte; may accountability ang mga mayors,” he said.

This arrangement will fast track the release of the aid, he said, because mayors have people they can mobilize down to the barangay level. DSWD, for its part, is undermanned.

 Like northern Cebu, Tacloban City and its neighboring towns also suffered severe damage brought about by super typhoon Yolanda on November 8, 2013.

 Romualdez said they also experienced frustration in the way the assistance was distributed to the survivors.

 “Malungkot pero ganun talaga ang reyalidad e… pasalamat nalang tayo sa mga private (donors),” he said.

 DSWD recently called on towns in northern Cebu to pass resolutions asking Secretary Corazon “Dinky” Soliman for reconsideration on the ESA guidelines.

 The guidelines provide that those family earning a monthly income of more than P15,000 and those living in a danger zone are not qualified to receive the P10,000 for those whose houses were partially damaged and P30,000 for those whose houses were destroyed. —/JMO (FREEMAN)