DSWD gets lion share of P15.9-B GOCC money for ‘Yolanda’ rehab

The Department of Budget and Management (DBM) has allocated P15.9 billion from the total P36.9 billion remitted by government-owned and -controlled corporations (GOCCs) this year for rehabilitation programs for the victims of Supertyphoon “Yolanda” in 2013.

In a statement, Budget Secretary Florencio Abad lauded the “growing efficiency” of GOCCs that helped fund social welfare programs for communities still reeling from the wrath of the supertyphoon.

“The revenue windfall from our GOCCs will allow us to devote more funds to our most urgent social welfare programs. This includes our continuing rehabilitation activities in areas affected by Typhoon Yolanda. Thanks to the growing efficiency of our GOCCs, we now have more funding room for shelter and housing projects that will help Yolanda-stricken communities,” Abad said.

DBM said that from the allotted P15.9 billion, P11.6 billion would be funneled to the Emergency Shelter Assistance (ESA) program of the Department of Social Welfare and Development, while P4.31 billion would be given to the National Housing Authority for the construction of permanent housing.

Under the ESA program, families or individuals whose houses were totally destroyed by the typhoon would be given P30,000 while families or individuals whose houses were partially damaged or who were renting would be given P10,000. ESA program target beneficiaries are those who have no permanent source of income and whose income lies on the poverty line.

DBM said the P36.9 billion remitted by GOCCs exceeded the target of the department for 2015 which was P5.5 billion. The Philippine Amusement and Gaming Corp. has remitted P10.1 billion to the national coffers. RC