Some Cebu City residents yet to receive ‘Odette’ aid

CEBU, Philippines —  House owners from at least 17 barangays hit by Typhoon Odette last year have yet to receive their financial assistance from the Cebu City government about a year after the strong typhoon damaged their homes.

Mayor Michael Rama said he has ordered investigation into the anomalies hounding the distribution of the aid, including duplication of the names of recipients. This, among others, allegedly contributed to the delay.

With all the allegations, the Department of Social Welfare Services now headed by Dr. Ester Concha will have to re-evaluate the listing submitted to them.

Concha admitted that the lack of manpower in their office had also caused the mix-up of listing provided by other departments to them.

She said the re-evaluation process took a lot of time and qualified recipients who have not yet received their ayuda may finally get it before the year ends.

“Ato man gud nang gi-evaluate maong nadugay. Gi-over gyud namo ang lista, wala bay nadoble, qualified ba gyud siya, or di,” said Concha.

Concha also disclosed that some households that received the aid twice had returned the extra, although she could not say how many or much in total.

There is still P30 million left from the budget of the Cebu City government devoted for that purpose, and another P22 million downloaded from the Department of Social Welfare and Development.

Concha said these can cater to over 10,000 more households from not less than 17 barangays.

“Before the year ends, i-release na gyud ni siya kay ipahatag man gyud ni ni Mayor,” she said.

To recall, the City Council headed by then vice mayor Donaldo Hontiveros was quick to respond to Rama’s call for the immediate approval of the P1 billion calamity fund for the typhoon victims.

Initially, Rama wanted to give all households financial aid, but after assessment of damages, recruitment rentals, clearing operations, and gensets to help out MCWD bring water to the people in the barangays among other concerns, it was decided that financial aid would be given to owners of partially and totally damaged houses at P5,000 each, without distinction.

Those who have already received financial assistance from other government agencies are no longer qualified to claim aid from the city government. — JMD (FREEMAN)