Ormoc kicks off second round of shelter aid distribution

ORMOC City, Leyte, Dec. 28 (PNA) – The City Treasurer’s Office resumed this week the second release of the Emergency Shelter Assistance (ESA) after receiving the funds from the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD).

DSWD Regional Director Nestor Ramos personally handed over last Dec. 22 the check worth PHP414.08 million to city treasurer Delia Vilbar for distribution to at least 28,984 families under the category “totally damaged” homes.

Each family is entitled to receive PHP15,000 representing half of the assistance. The local government completed the distribution of the first tranche on October.

Mayor Edward C. Codilla would have wanted to conclude the ESA distribution before Christmas, but because of the long holidays, only beneficiaries from 18 villages will be given their share.

City Administrator Francis Pepito is confident though that the distribution will be concluded before the election ban on Jan. 29, 2016.

It may be recalled that last June 1, DSWD downloaded to Ormoc PHP689,369,934.25 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, thus reducing the amount received by the beneficiaries.

With the concurrence of the city council, it was decided that families whose houses were destroyed will receive PHP15,000 instead of PHP30,000, while those whose homes were damaged will get PHP10,000 instead of PHP15,000 on the premise that the remaining amounts will be requested from the national government thereafter.

The ESA is being released by the DSWD as part of the rehabilitation efforts to help super typhoon ‘Yolanda’ survivors rebuild their homes. (PNA)
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