‘Yolanda’ victims to get cash, kits

TACLOBAN CITY—More than eight months after Super Typhoon Yolanda pummeled this city, the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) announced that survivors could begin to file applications for P30,000 worth of shelter kits or cash per family to help them rebuild their homes.

Nestor Ramos, DSWD head for Eastern Visayas, said survivors who had started repairing or rebuilding their houses needed to present documents, like receipts, to avail themselves of the assistance and get reimbursed. Those who had not yet begun must present certificates of eligibility from municipal or city social welfare officers.

At least 187,366 houses were damaged while 240,367 others were destroyed in Eastern Visayas by Yolanda on Nov. 8, 2013. Of that number, 46,553 damaged houses and 12,270 that were totally destroyed were in Tacloban City.

Beneficiaries, however, should not expect to get the money or kits immediately as their applications have to go through a process, according to Ramos.

Local DSWD offices will prepare the lists of applicants that would be submitted to the DSWD regional office, which would submit these to the DSWD central office. Based on the list from the regional office, the DSWD central office will prepare a budget and release the funds through local government units.

Leyte Gov. Leopoldo Dominico Petilla said he preferred that survivors be given construction materials rather than cash.

“There is no guarantee that the money they would receive would be used to repair their houses. Or we can have a combination of both cash and materials. We have yet to come up with a scheme on this matter,” Petilla said.

But for survivor Girlie de la Cruz, 22, and a resident of Barangay (villagew) 88 in San Jose District, cash at this late date would be preferable to construction materials.

“At least if the government will give us cash, it can go a long way and improve our temporary house,” she said.–Joey A. Gabieta  

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