First in Eastern Visayas P238M shelter aid given to beneficiaries in Leyte

CEBU, Philippines - A total of P 238.7 million in Emergency Shelter Assistance funds were distributed to Yolanda survivors in Palompon town of Leyte, starting on February 7, the first distribution of such aid in Eastern Visayas.

The ESA fund — given at P30,000 each for a family with “totally damaged house” and P10,000 for “partially damaged house” — was taken from the General Appropriations Act of 2015 and distributed by the Department of Social Work and Development.

A total of 7,895 beneficiaries in Palompon got P30,000 each, while another 5,326 got P10,000 each, for a total of 13,221 families. Palompon has a population of around 55,000 according to the 2010 census.

Mayor Ramon Oñate said he was proud to note that Palompon was the first local government unit in Eastern Visayas to receive the assistance, largely because it was the first to submit initial documentary requirements as early as March last year.

He lauded the LGU’s Social Welfare Office, headed by municipal social welfare officer-designate Raoul Bacalla, for its “efficiency and dedication” in compiling the required documentation, and “re-validating” the recipients as much as five times, “to eliminate complaints.”

By using the Disaster Assistance and Family Access Card system, and being transparent with the listing of beneficiaries, the MSWO personnel were able to weed out those who were not qualified, and include instead those qualified beneficiaries who were left out in the initial lists, for various reasons.

Oñate also told beneficiaries that Leyte 4th district Representative Lucy Torres-Gomez played a vital role in fast tracking the release of the ESA to Palompon.

“When we completed all the documentary requirements and submitted it to the national, we then called up Representative Lucy everyday to help us push for its release,” said the mayor.

Lucy, for her part, praised the Palompon officials and employees for their dedication and hard work, saying that her office only followed up the submission and that the real work was on the perseverance of the mayor and his team. (FREEMAN)