‘Yolanda’ victims in Ormoc set to get more shelter aid
ORMOC CITY, Leyte — The city government submitted to the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) regional office the Memorandum of Agreement (MOA) signed by the city mayor for the release of the second installment of the Emergency Shelter Assistance (ESA).
City administrator Francis Pepito and city legal officer Ivan Verallo personally handed the MOA to DSWD Regional Director Nestor Ramos.
The MOA indicates that each victim of super-typhoon Yolanda under the “totally damaged” category will receive the entire R14,286.75-million from the ESA.
Ormoc was allocated R689.36 million from the Comprehensive Rehabilitation Recovery Plan (CRRP) which turned out to be insufficient as the number of families rose from 40,673 to 52,325 with the accommodation of more names in the master list.
This reduced by half the R30,000 supposedly due to beneficiaries under the “totally damaged” category to only R15,713.25 on the premise that the balance will be requested from the national government thereafter.
cash balance
With the conclusion of the ESA distribution last month, Mayor Edward Codilla endorsed to the city council on Oct. 19 a request that he be authorized to enter into an MOA with DSWD for the release of the second tranche of ESA for those under the “totally damaged” category.
The MOA states that DSWD-8 will download R414.08 million for the distribution of R14,286.75 to 28,984 families.
However, during the meeting called by the SP Committee on Social Welfare, Senior Citizens, Women and Family on Nov. 9, Ramos announced that DSWD can download only R289.84 million, which is good for R10,000 each.
The beneficiaries will also receive galvanized iron sheets to cover the fund gap.
With this information, Councilors Benjamin Pongos and Vincent Rama, committee chairman advised the mayor’s office to submit to the council a revised MOA indicating that the beneficiaries will receive R10,000 and nine GI sheets instead.
Ramos told the two city officials that he pitched for the cash and roofing materials modality because there was no money yet during that time. (PNA)