Many in Kinatarcan Island yet to get Yolanda aid

CEBU, Philippines – Almost two years since super typhoon Yolanda devastated Kinatarcan Island in Santa Fe town, only half of the total number victims have reportedly received financial assistance from the government.

Some of them, said Association of Barangay Councils (ABC) President Rolando Villacarlos, have lost home.

“Pwerteng dugaya. Ang uban ni-surrender na tungod sa kadugay, emergency man unta,” Villacarlos told The Freeman.

Villacarlos, the captain of Barangay Langub, said that in his barangay alone, only half of those victimized by the storm received the emergency shelter assistance (ESA) from the national govern-ment while the other half have to wait for the second round of release.

He said the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) central office will reportedly release the second batch of ESA checks, reportedly around P40 million, once the first batch has liquidated the first amount released.

“Emergency man unta na siya pero mao may order  sa taas (DSWD Manila). Di  sila modawat kung naay kuwang-kuwang (documentation),” he said.

He said several families in his barangay, for example, have yet to receive the promised checks, and he is hoping this will be released soon.

Villacarlos said Kinatarcan, an island of three barangays with 2,000 households, has recovered slowly with the help of non-government organizations like the Caritas and the Santo Nino de Cebu Augustinian Social Development Foundation (SNAF) which are building houses for the people there.

Villacarlos said the National Housing Authority earlier promised to build them houses but backed out reportedly because the lots were not titled to the occupants, which frustrated him.

Other groups that offered help also reportedly backed out owing to logistical problems.

The island is about an hour away by pumpboat ride from Bantayan wharf. No regular ferry goes there.

“Akong nakita naay improvement gamay, naay uban naghuwat sa tabang sa gobyerno, hangtud karon, ang uban wa pa kadawat,” the ABC head said. —/JMO (FREEMAN)