DILG releases P86.7M for cops affected by Yolanda, Bohol quake

MANILA, Philippines -- The Department of the Interior and Local Government has released P86.7 million for more than 3,000 police personnel affected by Typhoon Yolanda and the Bohol earthquake in 2013.

According to a the Philippine Information Agency, the money is the first of two tranches from the President's Social Fund coursed through the DILG. The money is for Philippine National Police personnel whose houses were damaged or destroyed either by the typhoon or the earthquake.

The Office of the President will release a total of P218.38 million in financial assistance for 4,176 personnel from the PNP, Bureau of Fire Protection and the Bureau of Jail Management and Penology affected by calamities in 2013.

Another P86.7 million will be released once the first tranche is liquidated and the Presidential Management Staff finsihes evaluating and recommending the release of funds.

Beneficiaries whose houses were destroyed or were heavily damaged can get as much as P100,000 to help pay for reconstruction while whose houses sustained minor damage can get assistance of up to P30,000. 

Beneficiaries with totally or heavily damaged houses can avail of as much as P100,000 to defray the cost of repair or reconstruction of their own housing units. Beneficiaries with partially damaged houses, on the other hand, can reimburse up to P30,000 for the rehabilitation of their housing units.

The release was documented through a deed of donation, naming the PNP as donee and the DILG as donor. This means the PNP will be responsible for making sure the financial assistance is spent correctly and is properly liquidated.

The actual deed of donation was signed on March 28, but release had to wait until after the elections because of a prohibition on the direct release of calamity assistance during the campaign period.
 
“Therefore, in order to be prudent about the matter, we delayed release of funds until after the election,” DILG Undersecretary Edwin Enrile said in a press statement.