Politics caused Yolanda aid furor

CEBU, Philippines - The announcement on the release of P1.9 billion emergency shelter assistance fund has created confusion among super typhoon Yolanda survivors in northern Cebu, local government leaders said.

Mayors Celestino Martinez Jr. of Bogo City, Augusto Corro of Daanbantayan and Jose Esgana of Santa Fe yesterday said the people are now asking them where the money is when in fact, they have yet to receive it from the Department of Social Welfare and Development.The mayors served as guests during the 888 News Forum at the Marco Polo Plaza yesterday to clarify certain matters that came over the weekend.

Martinez said the DSWD should have first downloaded the money to the local government unit concerned before making any announcement.

“Give us the privilege nga kami moingon nga di-a na nakuptan na namo ang kwarta, so ingon unta ana ba ang gusto i-clarify. We should be sensitive in matter nga ingon ani kay malubog man ang mga tawo didto sa barangay ug lungsod,” he said.

Martinez said when no national government assistance was released three months after the typhoon, he was forced to use P5 million of the city’s calamity fund to purchase housing materials just to appease the people “who have kept on waiting.”

“Things like those, dili man unta maayong buhaton or di maayong i-istorya og wa pa moabot ang kwarta sa amo kay pareho karon nga nahibawo na ang mga tawo sa among lungsod nga naa nay kwarta, paninglan naman mi,” he said.

Esgana said he and other mayors have been following up the assistance in Manila and they are happy that the fund is finally with DSWD.

“Sad to note tungod aning mga balita nga dunay magpa-epal nga politiko, which is not good for us, especially for the victims,” Esgana said.

Esgana is apparently referring to Cebu fourth district Representative Benhur Salimbangon, his former ally, who claimed working hard for the release of the funds.

Salimbangon earlier said nothing was wrong when he got involved as one of the legislators who “pushed hard” for the approval of the supplemental budget in Congress which contained the said assistance.

Corro said the announcement made by DSWD and Salimbangon became more confusing.

“Instead nga makatabang, naproblema na hinuon. Wa pa man gani nahan-ay og maayo, ipagawas pa nga na-release, nagkaproblema na hinuon,” he said.

Both Corro and Esgana are concerned on the guidelines set by DSWD that those receiving more than P15,000 monthly salary can no longer avail of the assistance and those living in the danger zones.

“How can you explain (that) to the people? Uban mayor hesitant sa pag-distribute, maayo pa ang DSWD to handle,” Corro said.

The National Housing Authority is taking care of the relocation of the affected settlers from the danger zones.

“There are still a lot of things to be done, i-straighten out gyud unta usa ta mobuhi og statement,” Corro added.  

Esgana asked if Salimbangon was involved in the crafting of the guidelines.

“Kung apil siya paghimo sa guidelines, siya ang angayan basulon sa katawhan sa fourth district kay ngano wa ayoha paghimo ang guidelines,” he said. — (FREEMAN)