CH disburses P179 million for Odette victims

CEBU, Philippines — The Cebu City government has so far released over P179 million as cash assistance to affected residential structures in the city due to Typhoon Odette.

The latest disbursement amounting to P89.7 million was for close to 18,000 beneficiaries from 18 barangays.

Each beneficiary received P5,000 regardless of the extent of the damage to their houses.

Last December 30, the city was able to release P38.075 million to 18 barangays for 7,615 beneficiaries.

The second tranche was released on February 3 amounting to P51.515 million for 10,303 beneficiaries from 16 barangays.

City Treasurer Mare Vae F. Reyes also announced that they are now also processing the fourth tranche amounting to P62.740 million.

The fourth tranche will be for 12,548 from 21 barangays.

Cebu City Mayor Michael Rama earlier instructed concerned departments to find ways to hasten the release of calamity assistance after funds from 2021 got obligated by year-end and had to go through audit requirements.

Along with this, Rama has also set a deadline for the distribution of the cash assistance to beneficiaries not later than February 25.

So far, there are 48,413 residential owners in the city reported by the city’s Public Information Office from the Department of Social Welfare and Services (DSWS) that have partially or totally damaged structures due to super typhoon Odette.

Dialogue

Meanwhile, Department of Social Welfare and Development Secretary Rolando Joselito D. Bautista, together with Department of Interior and Local Government Undersecretary Jonathan E. Malaya, recently held an interfacing dialogue with local chief executives of Cebu Province.

The dialogue aimed to provide local officials with updates on the agency’s response operations for Typhoon Odette and projects that would respond to the needs of the affected communities.

Various assistance had already been released to local government units since the start of the relief operations including food packs, tents, and laminated sacks, as augmentation support to requesting LGUs.

DSWD Assistant Secretary Glenda D. Relova discussed the provisions of financial assistance for early recovery.

Based on the Joint Memorandum Circular No. 5 of DILG, DSWD, and the Department of National Defense (DND), the national government, through the Department of Budget and Management, will download funds for financial assistance to LGUs, and eligible beneficiaries identified as low income and severely affected, will be given the cash aid.

After the dialogue in Argao town, Bautista led the distribution of financial assistance in Balamban, one of the highly-affected areas in the province.

The national government ensures everyone that response operations will continue and provide those affected with the necessary help from DSWD,” said Bautista in a statement.

Also, the DSWD-7 has continued to deliver assistance to LGUs even after a month Typhoon Odette made landfall in Central Visayas.

Bais City, one of the hardly-hit areas in the Province of Negros Oriental, recently received 110 sets of family tents for the relocation of families currently seeking temporary refuge at the evacuation center.

The assistance is on top of the 16,100 family food packs (FFPs) and 100 sets of modular tents that DSWD has already released since the start of relief operations in the province. — Mitchelle L. Palaubsanon, GMR (FREEMAN)