‘Yolanda’ aid: DSWD says no liquidation, no new funds

TACLOBAN CITY—The Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) will not release funds to survivors who lost their houses at the height of Supertyphoon “Yolanda” until the city government had liquidated funds earlier released to survivors for the repair of damaged houses.

Nestor Ramos, DSWD regional director, said no new funds would be released to residents who survived Yolanda but lost their homes without a liquidation report from the city social welfare and development office.

“The money is already there,” said Ramos.

He said failure to liquidate the funds on the part of the city government would delay the release of new funds for survivors who need money to build new houses.

According to DSWD records, at least P1 billion had been released to survivors in the city under the national government’s emergency shelter assistance program which earmarks funds for Yolanda survivors to either repair damaged or build new houses.

In the city, at least 31,554 families are supposed to receive P10,000 each to repair their houses. Aid to these families amounted to a total of P315 million.