CH resumes payout for Odette victims

CEBU, Philippines — After almost two years of waiting, victims of typhoon Odette finally received their financial assistance from the Cebu City government.

City Administrator Atty. Collin Rosell supervised the first day of distribution of cash aid yesterday. He was joined by Department of Social Welfare and Services (DSWS) Operations Division head Portia Basmayor and Ernest Herrera, chairman of the Cebu City Anti-Drug Abuse Council.

Data from the public information office shows that 469 more beneficiaries from Poblacion Pardo were able to claim their financial assistance at P5,000 each for their damaged residential property due to typhoon Odette on December 16, 2021.

In Punta Princesa, there were 1,434 more beneficiaries while 19 in Barangay Sudlon 1 and 10 in Malubog.

Today, the city government will be in two more barangays to distribute financial assistance--Barangay Tisa with 700 beneficiaries and Sambag 2 with 1,344 identified beneficiaries.

On August 24, the city’s paymasters will be in Barangay Basak wherein 938 beneficiaries are expected to receive their financial assistance. On the same day 1,698 typhoon victims from San Nicolas will also get their share.

In the latest audit report of the Commission on Audit, state auditors noted some irregularities and delay in the distribution of the remaining budget allocated for financial assistance for the typhoon victims.

Before the COA report came out, however, Mayor Michael Rama already instructed all concerned departments to make sure to revalidate the claims of the beneficiaries and make sure that they receive their financial assistance as promised.

Aside from that, the city government also made their own investigation and corrected the irregularities found. — (FREEMAN)