SARA, Iloilo- The head of the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) here assured Ilonggos that they are working 24/7 to fast track the payment of Emergency Shelter Assistance (ESA) to Yolanda survivors.
“We have been working 24/7 to ensure that Ilonggos will have a merry Christmas,” said Ma. Evelyn B. Macapobre, regional director of DSWD Field Office VI.
Macapobre told this to the residents of Sara, Iloilo during the releasing of ESA worth P9 million on Wednesday (December 17) , specifically P30,000 each for 300 families. Also present were Congressman Niel Tupas Jr. and Vice Mayor Neptali Salcedo.
The ESA is being released by the agency as part of the rehabilitation efforts to help Yolanda survivors rebuild their homes. The amount of P30,000 is intended for those with totally damaged houses while P10,000 will be released for those with totally damaged houses.
“With the releasing of the assistance, we hope that Ilonggos will be able to repair their houses as soon as possible so that they will have a happy Christmas. Sa Pasko, hindi na sila mababasa dahil hindi na tumutulo ang kanilang bahay (In Christmas, they won’t get wet anymore because their roofs don’t have leakage).

USE PROPERLY
Macapobre also called on the beneficiaries to ensure that the amount goes to the repair and rebuilding of their houses.
“Ensure that the amount goes to the house repair and rebuilding. Do not buy a television or a cellphone,” said Macapobre.

PERSONS WITH DSWD, SENIOR CITIZENS PRIORITIZED
During the activity, it was evident the Sara LGU gave first priority to Persons with Disability (PWDs) and elderly.
Albert Aguinaldo, a PWD, for instance was all smiles when he received the assistance from Macapobre and Tupas.
“Salamat gid sa bulig. Ipakayo ko ni sa akon balay (thank you for the assistance. This is for the repair of my house,” he said.

Seventy-two-year-old Rodolfo Azuelo of Villa Hermosa likewise thanked DSWD regional director Macapobre for the assistance.
He said he is still living in a makeshift house where he lives alone. Azuelo, already paralyzed because of a bullet in his spinal column, said his house was totally damaged when Yolanda lashedin their area. “Bisan muskitero ko ginlupad ni Yolanda (Even my mosquito net was blown away by Yolanda).”
“Madamo gid nga salamat. Ibakal ko ni material para mapag-on ang akon balay (thank you so much. I will use this to buy housing materials so I could have a sturdy house),” Azuelo said
During the event, 25 kilograms of rice per family survivor was also released./dswd6