The municipal government of Sta. Fe town in Bantayan Island, Cebu called on the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) to release the P55.2 million balance of its Emergency Shelter Assistance (ESA).
Sta. Fe Mayor Jose Esgana said they sent a letter of appeal to Social Welfare and Development Secretary Corazon Soliman asking to release the ESA balance last February 9.
“Hopefully, the balance would be released as soon as possible to accommodate other beneficiaries who have not yet received the assistance,” he said.
The DSWD released P95.8 million out of P156.93 million last March.
There are 7,003 ESA beneficiaries within the town.
Distribution
Of this number, 4,345 lost their homes while 2,658 had their homes damaged by supertyphoon Yolanda in November 8, 2013.
The beneficiaries are in barangays Kinatarcan, Langub, Hagdan, Hilatagaan, Balidbid, Pooc, Maricaban, Poblacion, Ocoy and Talisay.
The initial distribution started along the areas of Kinatarcan, Langub, Hagdan, Balidbid and Pooc.
More than 4,000 beneficiaries received the shelter aid.
Those who lost their homes were given P30,000 cash assistance while those whose homes were damaged received half the amount.
Core shelter aid
Esgana is also hopeful that the ESA balance would be released so they can complete the second batch of distribution in Maricaban, Poblacion, Ocoy and Talisay.
“We also want to assure the Yolanda beneficiaries that they will receive ESA. They have waited for more than a year” he said.
Esgana said they have talked with Soliman who assured him that she will address his request.