Aid continues for ‘Yolanda’ victims

Volunteers repack relief goods at the Department of Social Welfare and Development in Manila on Nov. 9, 2013, for victims of Super Typhoon Yolanda. Donations to the DSWD for the relief and rehabilitation Yolanda survivors from local and foreign sources stands at P817,262,574 as of March 9, 2014, according to the DSWD Updates on Typhoon Yolanda Disaster Relief and Early Rehabilitation Accomplishments and Continuing Plans. AFP FILE PHOTO

MANILA, Philippines—The P1.2 billion worth of goods, services and projects the government allotted for Tacloban City is continually being distributed to the victims of Super Typhoon Yolanda (international name: Haiyan), the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) said on Friday.
Social Welfare Secretary Corazon Soliman said in a statement that food packs, livelihood assistance, temporary shelters have been sent to and built at the calamity-torn city from November 9, 2013 to October 17 this year.

Yolanda battered the Visayas on November 8 last year, killing more than 6,300 people with hundreds still missing.

Below is the breakdown of the P1.2 billion budget:

• Food assistance for 58,823 families – P575 million
• Feeding program in bunkhouses for 112,227 children – P188 million
• Construction of 113 bunkhouses – P68.9 million
• Cash for building livelihood assets for 9,395 families – P35.8 million
• Livelihood skills training of survivors for 600 beneficiaries of Pantawid Pamilyang Pilipino Program – P23.86 million
• Livelihood projects for 17 Self-Employment Association-Kaunlaran groups – P3 million
• Long-term livelihood of other survivors – P103,212

Meanwhile, another P10 million will be allocated by the DSWD for the construction of an evacuation center that will also serve as a regional facility of the agency.

Soliman said the project is part of the DSWD’s preparation for future disasters that may hit Tacloban City.

“DSWD is just awaiting for the finalization of the memorandum of agreement and documents for the change of location site,” she said.

The food assistance comprises of food packs with three-kilogram and six-kilogram rice packs, 15-kilogram and 25-kilogram rice packs, bottled water, canned goods, biscuits, noodles, and coffee, among others.

Also included in the relief pack are tents, mosquito nets, blankets, hygiene kits, mats, used clothing, plastic glass and cups, collapsible containers, plastic pails, slippers, frying pans, cooking pots, canvass, towels, flashlights, and water jugs.

To date, San Fernando Central School is the only evacuation operating in Tacloban, providing temporary shelter to 48 families displaced by the typhoon.

“We ensure that no one is left behind in the rehabilitation efforts for ‘Yolanda’ survivors. There are recovery and rehabilitation programs and services implemented in all towns devastated by the typhoon,” Soliman added.