‘Yolanda’ housing dwellers get livelihood kits

TACLOBAN CITY, Jan. 30 (PNA) -- The Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) field office here distributed Monday livelihood kits to small business owners living in the city’s relocation sites built for families badly-hit by super typhoon Yolanda.

The distribution, under the agency’s Livelihood Seeding Program, includes small community store package, fish vending package, food processing and rice retailer package. It benefited 1,000 residents from seven resettlement sites in the city.

Under the DTI Leyte provincial office, 37 local government units, including Tacloban is covered by this program.

Recipients of this grant underwent two processes - endorsement from the local government units and completion of basic entrepreneurial seminar.

Prior to the distribution on Monday, recipients were trained on how to create a business proposal.

The trade department conducted field validation to find out about the recipient’s source of livelihood or business before the 2013 super typhoon.

“After they undergo these process, they are entitled to the livelihood package worth PHP5,000 and if they become successful, they may seek assistance from our Negosyo Centers to help them improve or expand their business,” said DTI Leyte provicial director Desiderio Belas.

Belas explained that only small business owners badly affected by super typhoon Yolanda are qualified recipients of the Livelihood Seeding Program. (PNA)
LAP/SQM/ROEL T. AMAZONA/EGR

DSWD Eastern Visayas recognizes development partners

TACLOBAN CITY, Jan. 30 (PNA) -- The Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) has recognized local government units and individuals as partners for development of the agency in providing social services to the people.

DSWD Eastern Visayas Regional Director Restituto Macuto and DSWD Field Offices Manager Director Marita Pimentel handed the award on Monday from the office of DSWD Secretary Judy Taguiwalo.

The awardees were Barugo, Leyte for best municipality category; Tulo village, Mcarthur, Leyte for best barangay (village); Vicky Yaon for gender category; Nestor Piramide for improved local governance category; and Romeo Carbanilla for person with disability category under the Kapit-Bisig Laban sa Kahirapan-Comprehensive and Integrated Delivery of Social Services, National Community-Driven Development Program (KALAHI-CIDSS NCDDP) Bayani Ka! Award.

For the Pantawid Pamilyang Pilipino Dayig Award, recipients were Ma. Luz Orbong of Leyte, Erlina Ichon of Southern Leyte, Cecil Amistoso of Biliran, Sofia Pico of Eastern Samar, Cleofe Rebato of Northern Samar, and Vilma Padit of Samar.

For Lantaw Kultura Award 2016, the recipient was Shirley Calinawan, the Mamanwa Tribe Leader in Basey, Samar.

For most outstanding partner civil society organization 2016, the recipient was the National Auxiliary Chaplaincy Philippines.

Sustainable livelihood program Kaagapay Award recipients were the town of Naval, Biliran as most supportive local governemnt, Bridge Multi-Skills Training Centre as regional best private partner, Manungahan Sustainable Livelihood Program Association (SLPA) as best SLPA and Technical Education Skills Development Authority as regional government partner.

The DSWD regional office also acknowledged the 2016 Regional Exemplary Pantawid Pamilya Child Jennica Dalimet from Motiong, Samar and 2016 Regional Huwarang Pantawid Pamilya, the Gaña Family from Hinundayan, Southern Leyte.

Mayor Maria Rosario Avestruz, who received the award in behalf of Barugo town, said that Kalahi volunteers, who were the real heroes, deserve the award because they made the project a realization of their dream to improve the condition of their villages.

“I am just the facilitator. What we did is to provide services to the people, making them our priority,” Avestruz said.

Macuto said that the award is a way of giving acknowledgement to the support extended by various sectors to achieve genuine change.

“The volunteerism showed by various organizations and individuals and cooperation of beneficiaries and the recipient communities has yielded patience, perseverance and sacrifice to implement the project for the sake of achieving development. This is something that should be cherished and acknowledged,” Macuto said. (PNA)
LAP/SQM/ROEL T. AMAZONA/EGR

Tacloban city gov’t bares 2017 projects

TACLOBAN CITY, Jan. 30 (PNA) -- Tacloban's city government this year will focus on making its front-line services accessible to more residents, providing livelihood opportunities to relocated families, and developing Tacloban as a tourist attraction and favorite jump-off point of tourists.

Preparing to roll up her sleeves for yet another busy year for the city government, Mayor Cristina Romualdez bared her proposed projects, which are centered on her vision of a clean, green, and resilient Tacloban.

According to the local chief executive, the Cristina’s Learn and Earn Program (CLEP) is moving north this year to make available free livelihood training to resettled communities. Dubbed as the mobile CLEP, Romualdez's pet project will conduct mobile classes for eight courses in different resettlement sites to complement other livelihood projects being coordinated by the local government with the Department of Trade and Industry and other government agencies.

In the summer months, front-line services will be more accessible as the city plans to hold weekly services to the different city villages, which will include free circumcision.

A feeding program is also being readied for a selected public school in San Jose and one in the north for indigent children, after the city government received reports that some kids report to school on an empty stomach, according to the mayor.

The improvement of city-owned health facilities is also foremost among her concerns, she said, sharing plans of constructing more rooms at the City Hospital and the city health office to accommodate their growing clientele.

Other public facilities undergoing repair are the Tacloban City market and bus terminal. The public market will have new structures to provide convenience to market-goers; while the bus terminal is undergoing repair with funds from the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH).

The successful clean-up drive of the City–Limpyo Tacloban, Syudad Mahusay is getting a boost with additional street sweepers, while road center islands will have a makeover as a beautification plan is underway.

Talking about the city's eco-tourism potential, she said a Bay Walk Park will be developed at the Astrodome Grounds that would feature a Pasalubong Center and restaurants overlooking Cancabato Bay for locals and tourists to enjoy. A Yolanda Museum is likewise being planned as an added attraction.

Tacloban will also package itself as a favorite jump-off point to tourism sites across the region because of its vibrant hotel industry, she explained.

A night market is also being planned at the Balyuan area near the city hall to benefit micro-entrepreneurs.

Meanwhile, as a solution to the city's flood woes, Romualdez said her administration will come up with a Comprehensive Drainage Plan with the DPWH.

The drainage plan, which will specifically target populated flood-prone areas, is expected to be implemented within the year.

Repair of traffic lights damaged by super typhoon Yolanda, stricter imposition of the truck ban and one-side parking, as well as a proposed ordinance on pay parking are being contemplated to reduce traffic congestion in main thoroughfares.

The installation of surveillance cameras in the downtown area is also being prioritized, while a host of programs, like the New Beginning –- the integrated community-based rehabilitation program of the city government for identified drug dependents -- will continue.(PNA)
CVL/SQM/CITY INFORMATION OFFICE-PR

Gov’t to impose 4-month commercial fishing ban on Samar Sea

TACLOBAN CITY, Jan. 30 (PNA) -- Samar Sea will be closed to commercial fishers for four months this year to replenish the stocks of small fishes, which have declined after decades of destructive fishing.

Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources (BFAR) Eastern Visayas regional director Juan Albaladejo said they have been meeting with mayors in towns bordering the Samar Sea for the enforcement of the fishing ban from April to July.

“The Samar Sea has a yield of 2.8 metric tons per sq. km. This is below the sustainable yield of 3 to 10 metric tons. It’s low, but manageable. If we will do proper closure, we will restore the production to sustainable levels,” Albaladejo said.

The closure aims to protect the spawning season of small pelagic fishes, such as the nemipterus, short mackerel, big-eye scad, sardines and some demersal fish species.

“The Sea will still be open to small fishermen since they can only catch 3 to 10 kg. per trip. So long as they will use friendly fishing gears, it will not have an impact on the spawning of fishes,” he explained.

BFAR will introduce seaweed production and shellfish culture as alternative sources of income for affected fishermen.

The Samar Sea is a small sea situated between the Bicol region and Eastern Visayas.

It is bordered by the islands of Samar to the east, Leyte to the south, Masabate to the west, and Luzon to the north.

It covers the coastal waters of Almagro, Tagapul-an, Sto. Niño, Gandara, Sta. Margarita, Tarangnan, Daram, Pagsangjan and Zumarraga in Samar province.

According to a 1993 study conducted by Jurgen Saeger, a German fisheries development specialist, the Samar Sea has experienced a significant degradation of marine resources. Before 1981, there were 50 commercial fish species, but in 10 years, the figure was reduced to only 10 due to overfishing and illegal activities.

The expert found that the deforestation of surrounding lands has led to increased silt from denuded mountains that choke coral reefs. Only some 5 percent of reefs are considered to be in a healthy condition.

Another result of the increased silt is the red tide bloom, which first occurred in Samar Sea in 1983. Since then, the phenomenon has continued to occur in Samar Sea at irregular intervals.

The fishing ban was supposed to be enforced early last year, but did not push through due to the election season. (PNA)
CVL/SARWELL Q. MENIANO

Int’l organization picks Catbalogan City mayor as vice chair

TACLOBAN CITY, Jan. 29 (PNA) -- An organization of cities explored by Ferdinand Magellan has elected a mayor from Samar province as the vice chair for Asia.

Catbalogan City Mayor Stephany Uy-Tan took over the post during an election at the fifth meeting of the Red Mundial de Ciudades Magallanicas or Global Network of Magellan Cities (GNMC) in Lisbon, Portugal on Saturday.

The meeting was in preparation for the 500th anniversary of the first circumnavigation of the world led by Magellan.

The mayor from Samar’s capital is the only representative from the country in the GNMC meeting.

Also elected were Seville mayor in Spain as the Deputy Chair; Puerto San Julian mayor of Argentina as the Vice Chair for Americas; Praia mayor of Cape Verde as Vice Chair for Africa; and Tenerife mayor in Spain as Vice Chair for Europe.

“Our commitment for the promotion of Magellan's route as the first circumnavigation of the world along with the preparation of the 500th anniversary of the said feat scheduled in 2019-2022 are few of the tasks of the network along with the coordination between countries for updating and partnerships,” Uy-Tan said.

The GNMC is a network of all the cities that the explorer Magellan traveled to on the first ever journey around the world, promoting collaborative participation and cooperation among the different cities that share the history of Magellan’s first journey.

Although Magellan landed in Homonhon Island in Guiuan, Eastern Samar, Catbalogan City was invited to be part of the network, being a former capital of Samar Island.

This network of cities will celebrate the 5th century of Magellan's journey that took place from 1519 to 1522 this coming 2019 to 2022.

Magellan, a Portugese explorer organized the Spanish expedition to the East Indies from 1519 to 1522 with five ships provided by King Charles V resulting in the first circumnavigation of the Earth. The explorer died in the Battle of Mactan in April 27, 1521.

The circumnavigation of Magellan was later finished by Juan Sebastian Elcano, a Spanish explorer with only two ships, Victoria and Trinidad.(PNA)
JBP/SQM/ROEL T. AMAZONA/EGR

PHP140-M Ormoc road project gets environmental permit

ORMOC CITY, Jan. 29 (PNA) -- The Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) finally issued a special cutting permit that would allow construction work of a national road to cut through a forested area. The project’s progress has been snagged due to the delay of the permit’s release.

Department of Public Works and Highway - Leyte 4th district engineering office chief Lino Francisco Gonzales informs that DENR Regional Technical Director Danilo Javier signed the permit last month, but his office received it only last week. This means one month was lost which could have been utilized to start clearing almost 3,000 trees.

But even with the permit’s approval, constant rains have prevented contractor QM Construction from initiating clearing activities for the Gaas-Quezon Jr. road in this city. Adding to the project’s woes are the nine terms and conditions stipulated in the permit which the contractor has to comply, otherwise it will be cancelled.

For this reason, QM Construction is working to comply with the conditions while waiting out the rainy weather. “The most difficult condition requires the planting of 10 trees for every tree cut or a total of 30,000 new trees. The problem is that DENR doesn’t have that number of seedlings,” Gonzales said.

Thus, the contractor is looking into entering into a memorandum of agreement with DENR wherein it will just pay almost PHP1 million for the trees. DENR will utilize the amount to propagate the required number of seedlings to replace the cut trees.

Gonzales said the cumbersome process may prompt them to seek for an extension of the permit’s expiry due on February 7.

The project aims to cut travel time between the two mountain villages of Gaas and Quezon Jr. to a 15-minute motorcycle ride. Since the project’s inauguration on July 13, 2016, the contractor has accomplished a 60 percent completion rate, having opened 1,800 meters and concreted 800 meters on both ends of the road and some critical sections.

Concreting the entire nine-kilometer stretch will require PHP270 million meaning the project will not be completed as the available budget of PHP140 million is only enough to concretize 2.4 kilometers and the rest will be paved with gravel.

For this reason, the 4th Leyte district engineering office will tap the Tourism Road Infrastructure Priority program for more funding as the project is located near Ormoc’s main attraction of Lake Danao. (PNA)
BNB/SQM/FELIX N. CODILLA/EGR

Tacloban gov’t puts up satellite offices near 'Yolanda' housing projects

TACLOBAN CITY, Jan. 27 (PNA) -- The city government here committed to work closely with the national government to carry out projects that would benefit Yolanda-hit families.

Mayor Cristina Gonzales-Romualdez said the local government is putting up satellite offices in resettlement sites to bring much needed services to relocated families; while committing to work closely with the national government to speed up resettlement activities.

Resettlement sites located in the northern part of the city are about 14 kilometers away from the city.

“The visit of President Duterte speaks a lot of the government's thrust to ensure that displaced residents gets decent housing... safer, better living condition.”

“It's an indication that the national government is there to share the city government's effort to ensure self-sustaining communities that will nurture the future of Tacloban,” she added.

The President visited the city on Jan. 25 to check the progress of relocation of families from danger zones to permanent housing sites.

Since assuming office in July 2016, the lady mayor made the transfer of the displaced to relocation sites her top priority.

In fact, before the Nov. 8, 2016 visit of President Duterte wherein he issued orders to fast track Yolanda projects; the city government-led initiative “Caring, Giving and Reaching Out” has moved close to 3,000 households to northern relocation sites.

The local government has also endeavored to bring much needed utilities, like potable water to the sites which lack basic amenities.

President Duterte issued a stern warning to government agencies involved in Yolanda rehabilitation to complete the transfer of 14,433 Yolanda-hit families in Tacloban City from coastal communities to resettlement sites by March.

The Chief Executive promised to return to Tacloban in March to see if concerned government agencies fulfil their tasks.(PNA)

JMC/SQM/CITY INFORMATION OFFICE-PR

DepED Calbayog asks parents to register their kids early

CALBAYOG CITY, Samar, Jan. 27 (PNA) – The Department of Education (DedEd) in this city urged parents and guardians to register their children early for academic year 2017-2018.

DepEd Calbayog Division Superintendent Raul Agban said the activity is important for the education sector to prepare for the next school year. Early registration will run from Jan. 28 until Feb. 24.

“The outcome of the early registration is very important. It will be used as basis of the national government in the planning for the education sector,” Agban said. With this, we can determine the needs of every school like number of classrooms, furniture, and teachers.”

New entrants like the incoming kindergarten learners and incoming Grade 7 students as well as those who would be enrolled in senior high school must join the early registration.

For kindergarten, the child must be five years old by June 1. However, children who will turn five years old by end of August will be accepted on the condition that the Early Childhood Development (ECD) checklist must be administered to ensure that the child is capable of meeting the expectations of the grade level.

In addition, parents must provide a certificate of completion as proof that the child has already attended early childhood education such as day care or attained pre-elementary education in a private school.

“We are expecting at least two percent increase for next school year, that is usual enrolment we have,” Agban said.

Currently, DepEd Calbayog City Division has more than 30,000 school children enrolled in 156 elementary schools and at least 14,000 students enrolled in 26 junior and 15 senior high schools. (PNA)

FPV/SQM/JENNIFER S. ALLEGADO/EGR

PCA mulls coco logging ban extension

TACLOBAN CITY, Jan. 27 (PNA) – The Philippine Coconut Authority (PCA) is considering the extension of the coconut logging moratorium to raise nut production in the coming years.

PCA Administrator Avelino Andal confirmed that many groups have been proposing the extension of the logging ban for another six months.

The moratorium is effective for three months starting Jan. 3, 2017, while there is an on-going review of the implementing rules and regulations of Republic Act (RA) 10510593.

RA 10510593 amends RA 8048, which aims to streamline the processes related to permits and clearances.

“We have been strictly implementing the moratorium. We also check lumber yards to determine their sources of coconut lumber,” Andal told reporters in a press briefing late Thursday afternoon.

The PCA Governing Board pushed for a logging moratorium due to weak enforcement of RA 8048 or the Coconut Preservation Act of 1995.

“We believe that there have been abuses in the use of cutting permits. For instance, after super typhoon Yolanda, loggers in Quezon province used permits issued for Leyte and Samar provinces,” he added

The national moratorium covers all areas in the country except in Basilan province due to Coconut Scale Insect or cocolisap infestation.

“We have to cut three million infected trees in Basilan and nearly one million trees from areas recently hit by typhoon Nina. The volume is enough to supply the country’s lumber requirement this year,” Andal added.

The PCA chief warned regional and provincial managers to strictly enforce the ban or “they will be transferred to an area without coconut trees.”

“Expect movement of people in the PCA because I am disappointed with field officials who cannot stop coconut logging. Cutting a coconut tree is like killing a human being. It takes five to seven years before a tree bears fruits,” Andal told reporters

In 2016, the country’s coconut production was estimated at 12.59 million metric tons (mmt), 15 percent lower than the 14.81 mmt produced a year ago.

The country has 3.5 million hectares of land planted with coconut trees with average export revenues of USD900 million in the last five years. (PNA)
FPV/SARWELL Q. MENIANO

DTI to eliminate ‘5-6’ through micro financing

TACLOBAN CITY, Jan. 27 (PNA) – The Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) is confident of eliminating the “5-6” lending scheme in the country with the implementation of affordable financing for small businesses.

DTI Secretary Ramon Lopez said after President Rodrigo Duterte ordered the crackdown on loan sharks, some illegitimate lenders have either stopped their operations or lowered their interest rates.

“We will kill the 5-6 scheme slowly. At present, they’re compelled to bring down their interest rates because of available micro-financing to small enterprises,” Lopez told reporters here on Thursday.

“The new program is very attractive to potential borrowers because the process is also simple and interest rate is only two percent monthly, comparatively lower than the 20 percent daily under 5-6.”

The 5-6 scheme, popularized by Indians, issues small loans at a 20 percent interest rate. Payments are collected on a daily or weekly basis.

Lopez said the government will not arrest or deport 5-6 lenders, but instead they are encouraged to register and legalize their business.

“We talked with the Indian Business Chamber and they are committed to help legitimize the lending business of Filipino-Indians. The transition period is about three to six months,” he added.

Lopez was in the city to turn over initial funds to six micro financial institutions (MFIs) identified as partners in the new lending program officially named as Pondo sa Pagbabago at Pag-asenso (P3) program.

The central government earlier identified 30 poorest provinces in the country as priority areas for the micro-financing program, which include Leyte, Samar, Eastern Samar, and Northern Samar.

For its pilot phase, it will be launched in this city for the Visayas, San Jose, Occidental Mindoro for Luzon and Alabel, Sarangani for Mindanao. The kick off is scheduled within this month or early February.

Priority beneficiaries include microenterprises and entrepreneurs that do not have easy access to credit, or are accessing credit at very high cost, such as micro-entrepreneurs, market vendors, agri-businessmen and members of cooperatives, industry associations and co-operators.

Loanable amount per end-borrower can range from PHP5,000 for start-ups to PHP300,000, with maximum interest rate of 26 percent every year with no collateral requirement.

“With lower interest rates, borrowers can spend their income on expansion of their businesses instead of paying for the interest,” Lopez explained.

The program’s fund will be lent out in the business centers in selected provinces, where the participating microfinance institutions (MFIS) and the SBC can operate.

The 2017 General Appropriations Act has included an initial funding of PHP1 billion for financial assistance, a part of the planned PHP19 billion financing initiative for micro and small businesses in the next five years. (PNA)
FPV/SARWELL Q. MENIANO

NHA: No substandard ‘Yolanda’ housing in Tacloban

TACLOBAN CITY, Jan. 26 (PNA) -– The National Housing Authority (NHA) dismissed reports of substandard permanent houses for super typhoon Yolanda survivors in the city.

General Manager Marcelino Escalada, Jr. said that all he noticed during the site inspection of government housing projects on Wednesday are only defects.

“People will look at it as substandard house, but if you will check the design, you will actually see that it is not substandard,” Escalada added.

The official assured that if a developer constructs a substandard house, they will have to reconstruct the house.

“But if it is only a defect, they will have to repair or replace it or we will have the 10 percent retention. We will not accept the project not unless they fix the problem,” he said.

Escalada said that all designs and plans of NHA housing units are approved by the board.

Developers are now catching up with the repairs of the defect to avoid facing suspension and termination of contract and filling of liquidated damages from the NHA.

The NHA had awarded 6,619 housing units to typhoon Yolanda displaced families in Eastern Visayas from the 12,048 housing units completed by the developers.

Majority are constructed in Leyte province with 16,199 housing units, Tacloban City with 14,433 units, Biliran with 8,905 houses, Samar with 8,900 units, Eastern Samar with 7,573 houses, and Southern Leyte with 130 units. (PNA)
LAP/SQM/ROEL T. AMAZONA/EGR

NHA sets 2017 deadline for all 'Yolanda' housing projects

TACLOBAN CITY, Jan. 26 (PNA) – The National Housing Authority (NHA) ordered contractors to complete all housing projects for super typhoon Yolanda survivors in central Philippines within the year.

While President Rodrigo Duterte directed on Wednesday the completion of housing projects for Tacloban by the end of March, NHA General Manager Marcelino Escalada Jr. said project developers outside the city are given until December 2017 to complete all projects.

As of Jan. 24, only 21 percent or 42,465 of 205,128 Yolanda permanent housing projects have been completed so far. About 10 percent or 21,400 houses are still under construction. Only seven percent of 13,265 housing units have been occupied or awarded to recipients.

The agency has bid out 147,490 housing units to developers in six Yolanda-affected regions.

Of the 205,128 target housing units, some 90,148 are intended for Western Visayas, 56,140 for Eastern Visayas; 27,055 for Negros Island Region; 22,423 for Central Visayas; 8,760 for Mindoro, Marinduque, Romblon, and Palawan Region; 500 units for Caraga Region; and 102 units for Bicol Region.

Of the 13,265 awarded housing units, 6,619 are in Eastern Visayas, 4,783 in Western Visayas, 1,863 in Negros Island Region.

“In terms of defect, I told the developers to fix those because we will terminate the contract and we will file liquidated damage against them,” Escalada said.

In the case of Tacloban City, President Rodrigo Duterte set the March 2017 deadline for the transfer of all 14,433 families living in coastal communities.

The NHA reported that as of Jan. 24, at least 5,617 housing units have been occupied and turned over to beneficiaries in the city.

Out of the 14,433 target units for construction in 19 sites, 8,106 have been completed and 3,141 are still ongoing.

From the original completion target of July 2017, he asked government officials to get it done by March.

NHA Manager Rizalde Mediavillo, when asked on the directive of the President, said they will do their best to beat the deadline. “We, at NHA have been working very hard ever since. The past months, we are doing overtime even on weekends.

Mediavillo said some of the causes of delay during the early phase of construction were identifying the relocation site, buying the property from the owners, titling the property, soil tests, non-availability of construction materials locally especially in 2014, and weather concerns.

The President’s directive does not only include building houses, but provision of electricity, water, and livelihood opportunities.(PNA)
FPV/SQM/ROEL T. AMAZONA & VICKY C. ARNAIZ/EGR

Civil society groups take active role in Ormoc’s development

ORMOC CITY, Leyte, Jan. 26 (PNA)-- The Department of Interior and Local Government (DILG) presided on Thursday over the election of civil society organization (CSO) representatives to Ormoc’s special bodies.

These bodies are the city development council (CDC), city peace and order council (CPOC), local school board and local health board.

Some 39 of the 52 accredited CSOs were represented in the election wherein 30 of them were elected to be part of the CDC.

The number constitutes 25 percent of the total members of the CDC pursuant to section 107 of the Local Government Code of 1991.

Other members of the CDC are the 110 village chairmen of Ormoc, the city council’s chairman of the committee on appropriations and the congressman.

On the other hand, three CSO representatives were elected to the CPOC and one each to the School and Health Boards.

Local government operations officer Jesus Jeremy Bagares underscored the CDC’s importance and the crucial role played by CSOs in the body.

“The Local Government Code requires the development council to assist in setting the direction of economic and social development of the locality by producing a comprehensive multi-sectoral development plan,” Bagares said.

Of the 30 CSOs elected in the CDC, only one of them will be part of the CDC executive committee to be chaired by the mayor. The rest of the elected CSO representatives will form the sub-

committees of the planning team that will draft the comprehensive multi-sectoral development plan.(PNA)
FPV/SQM/FELIX N. CODILLA

DSWD to release additional cash aid for ‘Yolanda’ survivors

TACLOBAN CITY, Jan. 26 (PNA) – The Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) vowed to release within six months some PHP5,000 cash aid for super typhoon Yolanda survivors who were left out during the distribution of emergency shelter assistance (ESA).

DSWD Secretary Judy Taguiwalo said late Wednesday afternoon that there is an ongoing validation of 194,000 beneficiaries in central Philippines, who have filed complaints at their office before Nov. 8, 2016.

“While the validation is ongoing, we also have to decide on the mode of payment – by cash, check or cards,” Taguiwalo told reporters.

On Nov. 8, 2016, President Rodrigo Duterte announced the distribution of PHP5,000 ESA to selected Yolanda survivors.

The DSWD needs about PHP1 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 beneficiaries 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,” she added.

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)
FPV/SARWELL Q. MENIANO