DSWD Secretary Corazon Juliano-Soliman promised on Wednesday (November 12) that the payment of emergency shelter assistance (ESA) to those with totally and partially damaged houses when typhoon Yolanda lashed in Western Visayas will be finished by end of January 2015.
Soliman emphasized this during her meeting with governors, congressmen and mayors of Panay Island held in Capiz Province. With her were Secretaries Mar Roxas of the Department of Interior and Local Government (DILG) and Voltaire Gazmin of the Department of National Defense.
With the approval of the Yolanda Comprehensive Rehabilitation and Recovery Plan (CRRP), Soliman said that, “The President has given instructions that payment of Emergency Shelter Assistance (ESA) should be finished by end of January 2015.”
DSWD requirements for payment of ESA include the validated list of those with totally and partially damaged houses duly signed by the mayor and the Local Social Welfare and Development Officer, certificates of eligibility and photocopy of valid identification cards of each individual in the list.

P70,000 OR P30,000?
Soliman clarified about early reports that an ESA amounting P70,000 will be released to those with totally damaged houses.
“The P70,000 is still a proposal right now. It has not been approved so far. What we will be releasing is P30,000 for those with totally damaged houses and P10,00 to those with partially damaged houses,” said Soliman.
Asked whether those who have already fixed their houses can still receive, Soliman said that they could receive as those who have tried to get back on their feet should not be “penalized.”

UNSAFE ZONE
Soliman also emphasized that those living in unsafe zone will not be given ESA. Instead, the LGU and DSWD will have to work out on the establishment of a relocation site. The agency will be providing P70,000 in core shelter assistance, which means that the government will be building houses for them.

CASH FOR WORK PAYMENT
On inquiries of mayors on non-payment of beneficiaries of cash for work program, Soliman said that they will have to coordinate with DSWD Field Office since payment can only be done with the submission of necessary documents.
Among the documents which should be submitted are daily time records of beneficiaries during the days that they have rendered work, narrative accomplishment report, physical accomplishment report and photos showing the kind of work completed.

THANKFUL
Recognition of DSWDs efforts for relief and early and recovery also poured during the meeting. Among those who thanked the agency for immediate response were Aklan Governors Florenco Miraflores, Arthur Defensor of Iloilo, Exequiel Javier of Antique and municipal mayors.
“Thank you Secretary Dinky (Soliman) for the help. Your people here (DSWD Region VI) are giving necessary support. We got assistance through cash for work and livelihood assistance,” said Miraflores./dswd6/May Rago-Castillo