Loan sharks prey on typhoon victims

CEBU, Philippines - The outpouring of donations from various non-government organizations still failed to fill in the gap left by the government on the gigantic need for shelter of the super typhoon Yolanda survivors in northern Cebu.

The delay in the distribution of the much needed Emergency Shelter Assistance Fund from the Department of Social Welfare and Development prompted some survivors to resort to borrowing money from the loan sharks.

 Santa Fe Mayor Jose Esgana admitted that some residents had to borrow money in addition to the shelter kits they have received from non-government organizations for them to be able to rebuild their houses.

 Esgana said he could not blame his constituents for finding an alternative solution just for them to reconstruct their houses after the super typhoon devastated their island.

 “Bisag kinsa naigo sa kalamidad, they would work hard to survive. Naa ta’y certain initiatives na makaingon ta nga abnormal pero di man ta kaingon nga “hoy, ayaw” kay moingon lang unya sila nga “sa imo lang mi mangutang mayor or o kay naa ka’y kwarta or sa gobyerno,” he said.

Esgana said that even the local government unit has no sufficient funds to finance the housing needs of his constituents.

Esgana is worried about a possible situation in his town if the ESA funds will not be released.

 “Simbako nga dili madayon, sigurado, magkagubot gyud. Kay dili lang siguro napulo lang ang nangutang. Out of 7,000 families, let’s say mga 3,000 families nangutang ana,” he said.

 He said that since the typhoon survivors do not have the lot or the house to offer as collateral, what they expect to receive from DSWD will be able to pay the loan sharks. He said that most of those who applied for loans are those who lack money to reconstruct their houses or those who do not have at all.

 He said that the borrowers have to pay for the amount they needed plus the interest rate that he estimated at 20 percent. He said that it could be risky for the debtor if he did not have the documents stating the borrower has to pay for the interest.

 “Pabor sa  nangutang kay kon pila iyang na-receive mao lang iyang bayran,” he said.

 Esgana said that they have not received any word from the DSWD but assured the residents of Santa Fe that they will make a follow-up from the government agency.

As of October 17, DSWD has initially released P5, 580, 000 to Santa Fe. The municipality has yet to receive the remaining P77, 570, 000. Santa Fe has listed 2, 349 destroyed houses and 2, 536 for damaged houses whose owners will receive the ESA.

 Esgana said that the initial disbursement of the ESA fund was given to the families who were displaced due to the sinkhole that appeared in Sitio Dapdap, Barangay Langub, Kinatarkan Island.

Meanwhile, donations continue to pour in a year after the onslaught of Yolanda.

In an interior barangay of Polambato in Bogo City stands a new village that some considered as a new home while for some is a venue to hope anew.

This, as SM Cares, a corporate social responsibility arm of SM Group, turned over yesterday 200 houses in its newly-established village for the survivors of super typhoon Yolanda.

The houses were erected in a one-hectare lot donated by the heirs of Wen-ceslao and Margarita Fernan of the said barangay. The 200 units were also among the 1, 000 “disaster-resilient” houses that SM, together with its business partners, pledged for the Yolanda survivors in the Visayas.

SM Group has already conducted a groundbreaking ceremony at Barangay New Kawayan in Tacloban City for the construction of 400 houses. A total of 200 houses will also be constructed in Concepcion, Iloilo and another 200 houses for Yolanda survivors in Ormoc City.

In its press statement, SM said the houses in Bogo City were designed in adherence to the standards of the Building Code and can withstand winds that as strong as that of a Category 5 typhoon like Yolanda.

The village has utilities and basic amenities like streetlights, community center and basketball court. SM and Ramon Aboitiz Foundation Inc. had inked a deal and agreed to have RAFI implement livelihood and skills training program values formation and social services programs for the Yolanda survivors in the village.

The housing project of SM Group is on top of the P100 million SM has pledged to rehabilitate areas severely hit by Yolanda last year.

“We just felt that we really need to give back. Of course it’s a very sad incident, but it gave us opportunity to really show our care to the people,” said Hans Sy, SM Prime President.

Another NGO has extended its helping hands to the Bantayanons. The Islamic Relief Worldwide vowed to continue to help in the recovery efforts.

“We’re only here to support government and complement government programs. We will be here as long as you need us. We are staying as long as our services are still needed, we will continue to help,” said Syed Shahnawaz Ali, head of IRW.

Ali said that the organization is not only in the Philippines for short term because they want to instill in the minds of the survivors the thought of sustainability after a disaster.

He said that there is no question to the resiliency that Bantayanons put across, but calamity victims should learn from their experiences.

“People if they are hit by a disaster in the future, they are better prepared. They are able to cope and recover quickly,” he said.

For the phase one, IRW have erected 270 houses in Sta. Fe and Bantayan. IRW Community Physical Infrastructure Engineer Ellery Cristlin Lasala said that the organization will be moving forward for the second phase of its recovery efforts.

Lasala said that the organization is eyeing to construct at least 240 more shelters in Bantayan Island, including Madridejos.

She said that the construction will commence third week of this month and targeted to conclude in February next year.

She said that majority of their beneficiaries used to live near the shorelines. The organization believes that these people are vulnerable because they will be transferred to relocation site away from the shorelines sooner, she said. Ali also believes that the beneficiaries need to be provided with income-generating programs to keep them moving forward.

He said that this is the reason why IRW has extended aid to support in putting up small businesses to beneficiaries and conditional cash grants for social protection. IRW has provided skills training on carpentry, masonry, plumbing, small engine repair, and welding to about 500 individuals.— Grace Melanie I. Lacamiento, Michael Vencynth H. Braga, Jean Marvette A. Demecillo/FPL (FREEMAN)