CEBU, Philippines - To clear doubts and answer questions on the Emergency Shelter Assistance guidelines, the state social welfare agency is set to meet with local chief executives of northern Cebu.
Jenifer Abastillas of the Disaster Risk Reduction Unit of the Department of Social Welfare and Development said this is what the agency intends to do following reports of complaints from mayors of recipient local government units.
“With what’s happening, we planned to meet the mayors to explain to them the guidelines for ESA on Yolanda victims in northern Cebu. It is unfortunate that some are saying they will not claim the assistance. How about those who deserve and need it?” Abastillas said.
If all nine mayors of recipient LGUs cannot be gathered in one venue, the consultative meeting will be done in cluster or per town.
“We’ve offered to the municipal social welfare officers and mayors that we can help them explain to constituents as to who qualifies and otherwise. This is not required for all distributions but we can extend this technical assistance to them just so questions will be clarified,” Abastillas added.
The Yolanda ESA guideline was released in November 2014.
Prior to this, the guideline used was the omnibus guidelines, which provide general requirements for typhoon victims to comply.
The nine LGUs where the P1.9 billion ESA is allotted include Sta. Fe, Bantayan, Madridejos, Daanbantayan, San Remigio, Medellin, Bogo, Tabogon, and Borbon.
The ESA prioritizes survivors with monthly income of not more than P15,000, based on the latest guidelines.
The total ESA to be distributed to the nine LGUs in northern Cebu amounted to P1,909,630,000.
This was downloaded from the Department of Budget and Management to DSWD central office in December 29.
Of the amount, Sta. Fe will receive P95,830,000, Madridejos P125,725,000, Bantayan P375,880,000, Daanbantayan P425,870,000, San Remigio P188,130,000, Medellin P211,580,000, Tabogon P103,790,000, Borbon P99,205,000, and Bogo P283,620,000. — (FREEMAN)