Ormoc prepares to release 2nd tranche of shelter aid

ORMOC CITY, Leyte, Nov. 27 (PNA) - The city government submitted to the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) regional office the Memorandum of Agreement (MOA) signed by the city mayor for the release of the second tranche of the Emergency Shelter Assistance (ESA) in Ormoc.

City administrator Francis Pepito and city legal officer Ivan Verallo personally handed the MOA to DSWD Regional Director Nestor Ramos.

The MOA indicates that each victim of supertyphoon Yolanda under the “totally damaged” category will receive the entire PHP14,286.75 million cash balance from the ESA.

To recall, Ormoc was allocated PHP689.36 million from the Comprehensive Rehabilitation Recovery Plan (CRRP) which turned out to be insufficient as the number of families rose from 40,673 to 52,325 with the accommodation of more names in the master list.

This reduced by half the PHP30,000 supposedly due to beneficiaries under the “totally damaged” category to only PHP15,713.25 on the premise that the balance will be requested from the national government thereafter.

With the conclusion of the ESA distribution last month, Mayor Edward Codilla endorsed to the city council on Oct. 19 a request that he be authorized to enter into a MOA with DSWD for the release of the second tranche of ESA for those under the “totally damaged” category.

The MOA states that DSWD-8 will download PHP414.08 million for the distribution of PHP14,286.75 to 28,984 families.

However, during the meeting called by the SP Committee on Social Welfare, Senior Citizens, Women and Family on Nov. 9, Ramos announced that DSWD can download only PHP289.84 million, which is good for PHP10,000 each. The beneficiaries will also receive galvanized iron sheets to cover the fund gap.

With this information, Councilors Benjamin Pongos and Vincent Rama, committee chairman advised the mayor’s office to submit to the council a revised MOA indicating that the beneficiaries will receive PHP10,000 and nine GI sheets instead.

Ramos told the two city officials that he pitched for the cash and roofing materials modality because there was no money yet during that time.

“At that time we didn’t have additional allocation for the CRRP. After balancing all cash available, we determined we can still allocate,” he said.

Ramos was referring to the PHP492.65 million savings or unreleased funds from the CRRP for the entire Eastern Visayas. He added he will study if the PHP414.08 million needed for ESA’s second tranche in Ormoc can be obligated from the PHP492.65 million CRRP savings of their agency. (PNA)
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