Yolanda housing irregularities probed

The government is investigating alleged irregularities in the distribution of houses to victims of Super Typhoon Yolanda.

Around 200,000 Yolanda survivors in Western and Eastern Visayas claimed they have yet to receive the permanent shelters promised by the Aquino administration, Social Welfare Secretary Judy Taguiwalo told a press briefing at Malacañang yesterday.

“Many farmers and fisherfolk asked us about the emergency shelter assistance three years after Yolanda. We decided to have an internal assessment of the donations given to the DSWD as well as other funding,” Taguiwalo said.

“The exclusion of emergency shelter assistance for victims of Yolanda is widespread. We are talking about 200,000 (people),” she pointed out.

Taguiwalo said there were cases of irregularities, noncompliance or non-implementation of the projects.

“This is a minority. Even then, even if it involves only one municipality, it is unacceptable because this is money given to our people,” she said.

“We don’t want any form of irregularity, of any corruption. The President is very clear about it. Our marching orders from day one is prompt and compassionate assistance and fair treatment of communities,” she added.

Taguiwalo said she submitted a report about the supposed irregularities to the President. “We asked him to initiate the investigation... We will come (up) with that by next month before the third year (anniversary) of Yolanda,” she said.

The government released P93.8 billion to Yolanda-hit areas as of October 2015, according to the budget department.

The DSWD said it provided P18.39 billion in emergency shelter assistance as of November 2015.

Taguiwalo assured the public that funds would go to the intended recipients.

“The idea is not really faultfinding. The idea is how do we safeguard the money? What kind of resolutions? What kind of policies? What kind of guidelines are necessary?” she said.