TACLOBAN CITY ? The head of the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) in Eastern Visayas expressed reservation over the effectiveness of the ?Balik Probinsiya? scheme introduced by the government in light of the devastating typhoons that hit Metro Manila.

Director Letecia Corillo on Saturday recalled a similar program launched seven years ago to address the problem of illegal settlers in Metro Manila, but it failed.
She said thousands had availed themselves of the program but returned to Manila after a few months? stay in the provinces.

?They considered the program as a sort of a vacation only, to return back to Metro Manila after two months. They used the financial assistance given to them as their fare for their return to Manila,? Corillo said.

Millions of pesos in government funds spent on the program were thus wasted.

But she did not give any figures as to the number of those from Eastern Visayas who availed themselves of the program and the amount of financial assistance given to them.

She, however, said the program should be given a chance.

Earlier, Eastern Samar Gov. Ben Evardone had said that he would implement the back-to-the-province program.

Evardone said the provincial government would provide transportation to those who chose to return to the province.

They would also receive P10,000 to start a business and another P20,000 to buy housing materials.

Corillo said the provincial government of Biliran had identified at least 45 families who were projected to avail themselves of the program.

Corillo said the DSWD would monitor the program implementation by the local governments to ensure its effectiveness.