The Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) will be releasing Emergency Shelter Assistance (ESA) to five more Local Government Units.

“We are fast tracking the releasing of ESA to municipalities,” said Rebecca Geamala, assistant regional director for operations.

A total of P16.9 million will be disbursed for Ibajay, Aklan; P56.8 million for San Rafael, Iloilo; P2.6 million for Lau-an, Antique; P15.1 million for Lezo, Aklan; and P5.5 million for Nabas, Aklan.

These are all intended for families with totally damaged houses.

Geamala added that the agency has recently received P2 billion cash thus its personnel are speeding up the processing of documents.

LGUs covered by this fund include Dao, Maayon, Dumalag, Cuartero, Panitan, Sapian, Dumarao, Mambusao, Pres. Roxas, all in Capiz; Ajuy, Estancia, Passi City, Carles, Lemery, Batad, and Mina in Iloilo Province; Libertad, Valderama, San Remigio, Patnongon in Antique Province; Nabas, Buruanga, Balete, Malinao, and Numancia in Aklan; and Sagay City in Negros Occidental.

All families with totally damaged houses will be prioritized.

Under the ESA, a family whose house has been classified as totally damaged by typhoon Yolanda will receive P30,000 while one whose house was partially damaged will receive P10,000.

“We would like to clarify that the funds are not yet with the LGUs. We call on the public to refrain from harassing their mayors and other local officials,” said Geamala.

P2B RELEASED
More than P2 billion has been released so far.
The latest release was in Concepcion, Iloilo on Monday (April 20) when 3,380 beneficiaries with destroyed houses received P30,000 each.

HEARING

Geamala also assured that the agency is willing to attend the current investigation of ESA releasing being done by the province.

She apologized for the agency’s absence in the recent hearing saying that, “There was a need to conduct an emergency meeting among DSWD staff on the fast tracking of releases of ESA since we have already received the Notice of Cash Allocation (NCA).”

She noted that the presence of Director Ma. Evelyn Macapobre in the hearing was impossible since she is on leave for one month and such has been scheduled way back November last year.

“But we assure the public that we are hastening the payment of ESA to the municipalities,” she added.

She also said that should they be invited again, they would gladly attend. /dswd6/May Rago-Castillo