Yolanda shelter aid only for the poor — Soliman

A tyhoon survivor works under the ‘sweat equity scheme’ in constructing a new house for his family in the Yolanda Village in barangayLa Paz, Bogo City. (CDN FILE PHOTO)

The Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) stands by its guideline that limits the distribution of the Emergency Shelter Assistance to those living below the poverty line.

Social Welfare Secretary Corazon “Dinky” Soliman said that the Emergency Shelter Assistance (ESA) guideline ensures that only those who are most in need and have no immediate resources to rebuild their homes are given the assistance.

Last week, some mayors from northern Cebu complain that the guidelines created confusion as they listed as beneficiaries anyone whose house has been destroyed or partially damage by the supertyphoon.

Under the guidelines, beneficiaries of the ESA are families who have no permanent source of income or whose income is below the poverty threshold of the region.

Those houses that were either partially or totally damaged and who have not received a similar assistance from other agencies or non-government institutions are also considered as beneficiaries.

Regular employees of government and private corporations with a salary below P15,000 are also eligible provided they are included in the master list of DSWD-Disaster Assistance Family Access Card (Dafac).

Soliman explained that those whose monthly income is above P15,000 have the capacity to rebuild their houses.

Those living in danger zones are also not included as beneficiaries, because they are being assisted by the Housing and Urban Development Coordinating Council (HUDCC).

She added that the guidelines are meant to ensure that the right beneficiaries will be provided the needed housing assistance.
Soliman said they have to set limitations in consideration to the fund available for the program.

“We know that many were affected by Yolanda and I know that the people will understand that those who do not have a regular source of livelihood need the shelter assistance the most.”

Last week, Bantayan Mayor Ian Christopher Escario said the guideline is unfair. He also bewailed the belated explanation of the ESA, saying they would have a hard time explaining to those in their list of ESA beneficiaries only to be told that they are disqualified because the DSWD does not consider them as poor or living below the poverty line.

He said that he does not want to collect the P375 million aid due to the provision that those who earn P15,000 above are not eligible to receive the assistance.

DSWD-7 has been directed to assist the local government units (LGU) in explaining the ESA guidelines to the people.

DSWD-7 has already released P1.9 billion to the towns of Madridejos, Santa Fe, Bantayan, Medellin, Daanbantayan, San Remegio, Tabogon, Borbon, and Bogo City for the implementation of ESA.

The LGUs will be distributing the cash assistance to their respective constituencies. Leah Quintana, DSWD-7 information officer said that the towns of Poro, San Francisco, Pilar , Tudela and Tabuelan are next for the ESA distribution.

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