Typhoon victims get cash aid from NHA
After more than two years since super typhoon Odette pummeled Cebu and left a grim sight of devastation in December 2021, officials of the National Housing Authority (NHA) came to distribute financial assistance to over 1,000 typhoon victims in Mandaue Ci
Albeit super late, Mandaue City Mayor Jonas Cortes thanked the NHA for giving P5,000 each to the identified beneficiaries.
“Ang benepisyo nga gihatag sa National Housing Authority nagpahinumdum kanato og unsa ka importante ang pagtinabangay, panaghiusa sa pagtubag sa panginahanglan sa atong kuminadad,” said Cortes in a speech before the over 1,000 beneficiaries at The Tent in Mandaue Bay.
The assistance came from the Emergency Housing Assistance Program (EHAP) of the country’s housing authority.
“Ang NHA ay narito po ngayon sa Mandaue, Cebu upang tugunan ang inyong pangangailangan at paghihirap dulot sa pagsalanta ng Bagyong Odette,” said NHA general manager Joeben Tai.
Tai tagged along Senator Imee Marcos, sister of President Ferdinand Marcos Jr., during the distribution. He even thanked the senator, who is apparently seeking reelection in 2025, for allegedly helping out in the distribution of assistance.
“Kahit two years after na, kailangan pa rin ang tulong lalo na ngayon na napakataas na nang presyo nang lahat, so kahit dahan dahan ang bigay sigi na lang,” Marcos said.
Mandaue City Vice Mayor Glenn
Bercede also said, “kani atong assistance nga madawat uwahi na kaayo pero nalipay lang ta kay bisan uwahi na gihapon ta at least naa tay mapaabot.”
The beneficiaries in yesterday’s distribution of cash assistance came from the 22 barangays of Mandaue City whose houses were totally or severely damaged by super typhoon Odette.
To recall, Odette made its landfall in the Philippines on December 16, 2021, and Cebu was one of the hardest-hit provinces.
According to NHA, Odette displaced about 31,607 families, destroying approximately 404,653 houses and leaving 1,704,205 homes partially damaged. The NHA has already distributed financial assistance to around 4,000 beneficiaries in Mandaue City last October 16 to 19, 2023.
The funds derived from the EHAP of NHA aims to provide financial aid to families whose homes were affected by natural or human-induced calamities such as typhoons, landslides or fire incidents to help them rebuild their homes and provide an opportunity for a fresh start. –