DSWD to complete ‘Yolanda’ validation of list of cash aid recipients by Feb. 24

TACLOBAN CITY, Feb. 7 (PNA) –- The Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) had set the February 24 deadline to complete the validation of list of recipients of cash shelter aid for super typhoon Yolanda survivors.

The PHP5,000 new assistance to disaster survivors will be given directly to those who are in the official validated list.

“We have formed nine teams to fast track the validation of names submitted by non-government and people’s organizations tasked to list the names of those who didn’t receive the PHP30,000 and PHP10,000 cash emergency assistance or housing unit,” said Restituto Macuto, DSWD regional director.

The PHP1-billion cash assistance to all survivors in the Yolanda corridor will come from the Office of the President and downloaded directly to the Land Bank of the Philippines.

“It is very critical to have the correct names and spellings because the department may resort to issuing checks for the purpose,” Macuto said.

Cash pay-outs will be done immediately when validation is completed. In Eastern Visayas region, there are 700 Conditional Cash Transfer (CCT) beneficiaries who will receive their assistance through their ATM (automated teller machines) cards.

CCT recipients are considered as first priority in the cash distribution.

During President Duterte’s visit in Sta. Elena village, this city last January 25, he reminded DSWD Secretary Judy Taguiwalo to immediately release the cash aid meant for those who were left out in the distribution of emergency shelter assistance (ESA).

The President first made the pronouncement that his office will release PHP5,000 to Yolanda survivors during the third commemoration of super typhoon Yolanda last Nov. 8, 2016 here.

The final list must be submitted to the Office of the President not later than Feb. 10 this year. Macuto, however, reiterated that there would be no additional lists submitted beyond November 2016.

Macuto noted that there are 61,198 claimants coming from Eastern Visayas. He cited that those who will have access to the grant are those from the list submitted by non-governmental organizations and people's organizations, the list of unfunded ESA beneficiaries submitted to the Department of Budget and Management, and those grievances validated by the DSWD.

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. (PNA)
LAP/SQM/VICKY C. ARNAIZ & LIZBETH ANN A. ABELLA/EGR