Yolanda survivors to get cash provision back home

CEBU, Philippines - Yolanda survivors occupying the Tent City at the South Reclamation Project (SRP) who will be returning to their hometowns in Leyte will be given P3,000 each as provision.

Ester Concha, head of Cebu City’s Department of Social Welfare and Services (DSWS), said the amount will be taken from the P1.5 million budget released this year under the Balik Probinsya Program.

She said the amount has also been reduced even before as they were extending financial assistance for evacuation centers.

Concha said they are also coordinating with the Naval Forces Central and of the Central Command for possible free ride on boats and C130, respectively, for the survivors.

“Gawas gud sa mga personal nilang butang, naa sila’y mga bag-ong karga kay daghan sad baya silang natigom diri,” she said.

Extra allowance will also be given to the victims for their trucking fare once they arrive in Tacloban City, she said.

Even before the survivors are set to return to their hometowns, Concha said they are already coordinating with barangay officials of the different barangays in Tacloban City and the rest of the areas in Eastern and Western Visayas.

“Naa ta’y data kung asa sila na barangay sa Leyte and kung unsa status nila didto and kung unsa matabang sa ilang lugar. I-coordinate nato kay if wala ra diay pud sila’y kabalikan didto, back to zero lang gihapon,” Concha pointed out.

For the families who have chosen to stay here in Cebu and are seeking employment, Concha said trainings and job-matching are already lined up for them.

In fact, the Technical Education and Skills Development Authority (TESDA) have started yesterday its meat processing training for the typhoon victims.

Concha said that they are also constantly giving assistance to home-based survivors, or those typhoon victims who are staying with their relatives in the different areas of Metro Cebu.

She said that food packs containing three kilos of rice each and canned goods, among others, are being extended to some 100 home-based families every week.

“We will give while the supply lasts,” said Concha.  (FREEMAN)