In Bogo City: Yolanda victims get P30T cash aid

CEBU, Philippines - The Department of Social Welfare and Development yesterday turned over P30,000 emergency shelter assistance to each of the 502 beneficiaries in Bogo City.

DSWD-7 director Mercedita Jabagat said they are targeting 7,000 upland beneficiaries identified by the local government unit of Bogo City whose houses were totally damaged by super typhoon Yolanda in November last year.

Jabagat said the fund is already part of the rehabilitation plan submitted by Cebu Governor Hilario Davide III which was recently approved by President Benigno Aquino III.

The Department of Agriculture likewise turned over to Bogo City Mayor Celestino Martinez Jr. a total amount of P9 million of agricultural inputs for the 1,489 farmer beneficiaries.

These include P2 million worth of 4WD 90HD Tractor; 1,750 bags of fertilizers, 400 bags of hybrid corn seeds, 119 sets of farm tools; 4,000 pieces grafted mango.

Acting DA-7 executive director Angel Enriquez said they are distributing same items to all the 16 LGUs affected by super typhoon Yolanda in northern Cebu including Camotes.

Enriquez said DA-7 has allocated P145 million for the 16 LGUs out of the agency’s regular budget.

The turn over ceremony was held simultaneous with the 31 housing units completing the 134 units accommodated at the Yolanda Village in Barangay La Paz, Bogo City, which lot was donated by the family of Wenceslao Canete.

The 31 units called Little Norway are donations from a Norwegian family represented by May Britt Tynes under Prosjekt Filipppinene. Tynes said each unit costs P100,000 to P120,000.

She also promised to put a GI sheets roof of the village’s basketball court where the activity was held yesterday.

Martinez said other resettlement sites are under development such as in Barangays Cayang (94 units), Polambato (200 units), Bungtod (300 units), Marangog (177 units) and Gairan (300 units).

There is resettlement site in Malingin but Martinez said it needs a lot of development.

Martinez said there are around 2,500 units pledged by various local and foreign non-government organizations but there are around 4,000 families to be relocated.

Cebu Governor Hilario Davide III, who was present at the activity, is hoping that the funding for the approved rehabilitation plan could be released by the national government within the year so it could be downloaded as soon as possible to LGUs.

Martinez asked the beneficiaries to take care of the houses given to them for free. Also yesterday, World Vision Development Foundation Inc. reported that a total of 23,483 families were reached in four municipalities in northern Cebu in the emergency and recovery phase of Yolanda Response.  (FREEMAN)