Odette victims finally receive long-delayed NHA assistance

CEBU, Philippines — After four years of waiting, victims of Typhoon Odette in Carcar City have finally received their P10,000 financial assistance from the National Housing Authority (NHA).

NHA-7 officials began distributing the Emergency Housing Assistance Program (EHAP) funds on Wednesday to qualified household beneficiaries whose houses were either severely or totally damaged during the 2021 typhoon.

More than 2,000 beneficiaries received their aid yesterday at the Poblacion 1 barangay gymnasium. Of these, 997 were from Barangay Valencia, 353 from Valladolid, 342 from Tuyom, and 339 from Poblacion III. According to the NHA, Carcar City has a total of 5,787 qualified beneficiaries.

Carcar became the first local government unit in Cebu to complete all documentary requirements ahead of other LGUs, making its residents the first to receive the long-delayed assistance.

In 2021, the NHA had earmarked P742 million for Odette victims across Cebu Province. However, the funds were later reverted to the national treasury following a dispute between the NHA and the administration of then Cebu governor Gwendolyn Garcia.

The NHA insisted on using the Office of Civil Defense (OCD) list of beneficiaries, which had just over 70,000 validated names. The Capitol, however, pushed for its own list of more than 400,000 names. The agency warned that using an unverified list could violate Commission on Audit rules.

Garcia also demanded that the funds be downloaded to the Capitol so the provincial government could distribute the assistance, but the NHA refused. The disagreement ultimately led to the funds being returned to the national treasury.

This year, Governor Pamela Baricuatro asked the NHA to reallocate the funds for Odette victims and assured the agency of full cooperation.

“As the People’s Governor, I firmly believe that the affected Cebuanos deserve to receive what is rightfully theirs, despite the years that have passed,” Baricuatro said.

NHA General Manager Joeben Tai confirmed that Baricuatro’s request had been approved and that President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. ordered the release of the funds to typhoon victims this month. — /FPL (FREEMAN)