PESQUERA
Yolanda survivors staying in temporary shelters put up at the South Road Properties (SRP) were advised to return to their towns in Eastern Visayas and avail of national government’s assistance.
Former city councilor Jocelyn Pesquera said the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) allocated P5,000 cash aid for each family.
“But they have to first register there in Region 8 with proper endorsement from the city,” said Pesquera, whom Cebu City Mayor Michael Rama designated to handle the concerns of typhoon victims.
Typhoon victims who plan to relocate to Cebu could always return to Cebu City after they collect their share of DSWD assistance, she said.
As of Tuesday, Pesquera said 23 out of 53 families staying in the SRP shelter confirmed their intention to return home to Tanauan, Tulosa, Alang Alang, Basey and Guiuan towns in Samar and Leyte.
She said 30 families wanted to relocate to the cities of Lapu-Lapu, Mandaue and Cebu where their relatives have found employment. Pesquera said 14 occupants already found jobs in Cebu.
One typhoon victim, a baker, already left for Leyte last week ahead of the others because he was told to report back to work.
Ester Concha, head of the Department of Social Welfare and Services in Cebu City, said the baker was provided fare and pocket money by the city government.
As of yesterday, the center houses 53 families or a total of 193 persons.
Pocket money
Pesquera said she met with Concha, DSWD and Red Cross representatives and they agreed to designate DSWD as the entity to issue a request to the Philippine Navy based in barangay Looc, Lapu-Lapu City for the use of a Navy vessel in transporting Yolanda victims back to region 8.
Families who return home may avail of the city’s Balik Probinsya program that allocated P3,000 per family.
Pesquera said, Yolanda victims who relocate to Cebu won’t be given assistance by Cebu City Hall even if they intend to return after claiming their DSWD assistance.
“We would be questioned by the Commission on Audit (COA) because the purpose of the Balik Probinsya Program is so they won’t return to Cebu,” Pesquera said.
Typhoon victims will be sent back home on March 23, the same day that the Cebu City government and Red Cross will stop operating the family rebuilding center which started its services last December.