DSWD says only 200,000 ‘Yolanda’ survivors entitled to new cash aid

TACLOBAN CITY, Nov. 9 (PNA) –- The Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) clarified that only survivors who did not receive post-disaster emergency shelter assistance (ESA) will get the P5,000 cash aid from the central government.

In an interview late Tuesday afternoon, DSWD Secretary Judy Taguiwalo said they already have the list of about 200,000 beneficiaries in central Philippines, who have filed complaints at their office.

Taguiwalo answered media queries late Tuesday afternoon after President Rodrigo Duterte announced the new assistance during the third Yolanda anniversary at the mass grave site in Basper village.

“These are people who have worked in the past three years to claim what is rightfully theirs. This is in recognition of people who have been asking for justice,” Taguiwalo told reporters.

The DSWD needs about P1 billion funds from the Office of the President for the distribution of across the board cash assistance. The agency has only PHP46 million remaining funds for Yolanda survivors, just enough for administrative cost.

The Cabinet official is eyeing to complete the distribution of cash aid within the first three months of 2017.

“We will immediately start the cash distribution once the budget is downloaded from the Office of the President. There are no more ESA since we don’t have the funds, but we can give some form of recognition to those who did not avail ESA,” Taguiwalo explained.

Between 2013 to 2015, the government had distributed PHP30,000 ESA for families with totally damaged houses and PHP10,000 for those with partially damaged houses. The President also announced the provision of additional PHP3,000 for livelihood support of selected survivors. (PNA)

LAP/SARWELL Q. MENIANO