Soliman to investigate Daanbantayan ESA issue

Social Welfare Secretary Corazon “Dinky” Soliman will investigate the distribution of the Emergency Shelter Assistance (ESA) in Daanbantayan, northern Cebu, following the complaints of some Yolanda survivors that they were crossed out from the list of supposed beneficiaries.

Speaking to reporters during the launch of the Accelerated and Sustainable Anti-Poverty Program (ASAPP) of the national government at the Capitol yesterday, Soliman said that the list of beneficiaries is still undergoing revalidation.

Residents of several barangays in the northern Cebu town of Daanbantayan have complained that they still have not received  their share of the P425 million cash aid under the ESA of the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD).

Secretary Soliman clarified that throughout the revalidation process, some names may have been crossed out or even added.

“If you are in the list but you did not receive any assistance, you have probably received a house from a nongovernment organization already. But if you received other kinds of aid and are in the list, you can still avail of the ESA,” she said.

Families whose houses were damaged during supertyphoon Yolanda in November 2013 will receive P10,000 while those whose houses were destroyed will receive P30,000.

Under the omnibus guidelines set by DSWD, those who earn a monthly household income of over P15,000 or are still living in danger zones are not eligible to receive the aid.

The complainants admitted that they are not supporters of the current Daanbantayan administration and claimed they are victims of politics as they are identified with the  opposition.