City gov’t prepares for distribution of ESA

NOW that the 13^th Sangguniang Panlungsod has approved the final document that would allow the release of the Emergency Shelter Assistance (ESA), the focus has shifted to the distribution of funds. In fact, members of the Association of Barangay Chairmen (ABC) have already drawn lots to determine which cluster villages will be the first to get the funds.

The following is the sequence of the distribution by clusters: Cluster 2 (Eastern barangays), Cluster 1 (West), Cluster 4 (South), Cluster 3 (Suburbs), Cluster 5 (North) and Cluster 6 (Central). Another drawing of lots will be held by each cluster to determine the sequence of distribution by barangay.

During the meeting called by the Committee on Social Welfare last Apr. 20, City Legal Officer Ivan Verallo relayed the information given by Land Bank of the Philippines (LBP) Manager Jerome Gobenciong on how long the distribution of funds would take.

The procedure may take two to three months depending on the amount LBP will release on a day-to-day basis. “Naay certain amount nga ma-release [ang bangko] everyday. So ang iyaha (Gobenciong) gyud target is if ma-distribute og three months maayo kay depende sa availability of funds nga ma-release sa Land Bank. Di man sila kasiguro nga kining adlawa parehas ang amount nga ma-release kadto sa previous day,” Atty. Verallo explained.

Councilor Tomas Serafica aired his preference that the ESA be released in the form of cheques. But that would be impossible given the number of beneficiaries – 52,325 based on the original master list. “We’ll be distributing 52,000 cheques. Unya according to Land Bank, they cannot print that (much) cheques in one year kay naa may number of cheques nga (puwede) ma-print nila. (Mao nga) mas mu-advice sila og cash (ang ihatag),” Verallo said.

For his part, Councilor Pedro Godiardo Ebcas said he would rather that the money be distributed before October when the filing of Certificates of Candidacy starts to avoid doubts that the ESA will be used to buy votes for next year’s polls. “Personally di ko gusto muabot dihang dapita (sa Oktubre)” he said.

SP finally okays MOA; ESA funds may be downloaded next week

FINALLY, the 13^th Sangguniang Panlungsod (SP) passed a resolution authorizing Mayor Edward C. Codilla to enter into a Memorandum of Agreement (MOA) with the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) for the implementation of the Emergency Shelter Assistance (ESA).

The passage of the resolution would allow the downloading of ESA funds to the local government unit (LGU). Media reports put the blame on the City Social Welfare and Development Office’s late submission of documents for the delay in the downloading of ESA funds.

However, CSWDO has actually prepared all but one document. These are the Project Proposal, Disaster Terminal Report, Rehabilitation Plan, Certificate of Eligibility of the Beneficiaries, Master list of Proposed Beneficiaries and Resolutions from all 110 Sangguniang Barangays of Ormoc.

With the SP’s granting its approval during its regular session last Apr. 23, the CSWDO believes the ESA would be released sooner than most would think. According to Social Welfare Asst. Vilma F. Mendoza, the director of DSWD’s Disaster Management Bureau Theresa O. Briones visited them earlier that day and informed that the funds may be downloaded in a week’s time upon the submission of the documentary requirements.  “So kung kumpleto na ta, siguro by next week kung mapasa na nato (ang MOA), basin mabalhin na pud na (ang kuwarta) sa ato,” Mendoza said.

Suspenseful proceedings

SP observers thought the measure would be stalled anew when Councilor Bennet Pongos expressed apprehension over the plan to compel beneficiaries to sign an affidavit when they receive the money. Pongos made known his concern during the meeting called by the Committee on Social Welfare last Apr. 20.

The technical working group (TWG) formed by Mayor Codilla to address ESA-related concerns came up with a safety measure that would assure only qualified beneficiaries will receive the ESA based on the guidelines outlined in DSWD Memorandum Circular No. 24 s. 2014, by compelling them to sign an affidavit.

The guidelines disqualifies families who earn at least P15,000, those living in danger zones and bunkhouses, and those who have received shelter units from government and non-government organizations. The affidavit will make unqualified recipients legally liable if they receive the money.

Pongos questioned the need for an affidavit as a safety net when this should be covered by the validation of beneficiaries by the DSWD as provided for in the guidelines. “It is very clear that the validation is a function of your office. There should be a formal validation. In fact, it is very clear there is an inspection or an effort was taken to really find out if totally or partially,” the councilor said.

Another concern of Pongos is that the affidavit might discourage beneficiaries from claiming their share of the ESA. “Tingali’g mahulog na lang ni’g paisogay kinsay mupirma,” he said. So pronounced was his opposition that a five-minute recess was called to allow him to discuss the matter with City Legal Officer Ivan Verallo.

When the meeting resumed, Atty. Verallo assured Pongos that barangay chairmen have revalidated the master list. “Nag-conduct man gyud sa re-validation (apan) di man gyud ta kasiguro ang barangay matuman pud ana religiously. So mao na kana nga among pa-executon og affidavit (ang mga makadawat) nga mu-attest nga qualified gyud sila,” the legal officer explained. “Frankly speaking di gyud ka kasabot sa huna-huna sa tao nga mu-claim lang sa kuwarta mao nga amo sila gi-require (nga mu-issue og affidavit).”

Convinced by the explanation, Pongos yielded to the TWG’s discretion and gave his approval to the resolution authorizing Mayor Codilla to sign the MOA. “I believe that our concern was sufficiently addressed. I believe it is urgent that we should right away pass this resolution because the distribution of the ESA must be performed the soonest possible time,” he said.

Meat vendors lobby for abattoir repair

Secretary Mar Roxas, Gov. Dominic Petilla and Mayor Edward C. Codilla cut the ceremonial ribbon inaugurating the rehabilitated public market. Also in the photo are DILG Regional Director Pedro Noval and ABC President Mariano Y. Corro. (Photo by Josephine Serseña)

“Kung wala lang na maguba adtong Yolanda, siguro “AA” na kanang atong slaughterhouse.” This was the comment aired by Ronnie Diaz, vice chairman of the Meat Vendors Association during a meeting with Interior Secretary Mar Roxas after inaugurating the rehabilitated public market last Apr. 8.

Diaz, who was tasked by their group to thank Roxas for rehabilitating the market, shared their plight during the days after typhoon Yolanda struck Ormoc. “Suwerte na gani mi kay naa mi sa ubos, dili kaayo mi direkta sa init. Pero kung mag-uwan, uwan pud sa amoa,” he narrated. He then requested the Secretary to rehabilitate the city’s abattoir also. By Joey Vincent Motel

Qualified but unlisted beneficiaries may still get shelter assistance

FAMILIES who are qualified to receive Emergency Shelter Assistance (ESA) but were not included in the master list have a chance to become beneficiaries. Association of Barangay Chairmen President Mariano Y. Corro declared this at the meeting on the ESA called by the 13^th Sangguniang Panlungsod’s Committee on Social Welfare last Apr. 20.

Corro, who is a lawyer, based his observation on the memorandum issued by Secretary Dinky Soliman of the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD). He specifically cited point number two of the memo dated Feb. 25, 2015 which partly states:

“Any number beyond the CRP (Comprehensive and Recovery Plan) classified as non-CRP targets may be requested for funding with DSWD-Central Office subject for fund sourcing with the DBM (Department of Budget and Management).” No timetable was given on the approval of the requested funds, however.

Controversy arose over the posting last Apr. 11 of the ESA master list which contained double entries and names of unqualified recipients, as well as the inclusion of both husband and wife, among others. Some names are found elsewhere and not under the barangays they belong to.

Social Welfare Asst. Vilma F. Mendoza of the City Social Welfare and Development Office attributes some of the missing names to the submission of more than one Dafac forms to different barangays by individuals who wanted to get more than their fair share of relief aid.

This resulted to double entries in the database, prompting the encoder to delete the duplicate name, notwithstanding if the remaining name actually belongs to the barangay where it was posted. This explains why some names of qualified beneficiaries are found elsewhere instead of the barangays where they actually belong.

EDC Community Sportsfest kicks off

ENERGY Development Corp. kicked off this year’s community sports fest featuring men’s and women’s volleyball for the 16 mountain barangays occupied by its Leyte Geothermal Business Unit (LGBU) last Apr. 17. LGBU Engr. Manuel C. Paete declared the opening of the games.

There are seven participating barangays from Kananga namely Tongonan, Montebello, Hiloctogan, Lim-ao, Rizal, San Ignacio and Aguiting; and nine from Ormoc namely Danao, Cabingtan, Liberty,  Milagro, Dolores, Cabaon-an, Gaas, Nueva Vesta and Tongonan. by Dante Raden

Mayor Edward C. Codilla delivers his inspirational message to participating athletes of the EDC Community Sportsfest. (Photo by Dante Raden)

ESA master list will still undergo ‘cleansing’ -- Pepito

THE master list for the ESA is not yet final and will still be subject for “cleansing.” This was the decision reached by the technical working group (TWG) formed by Mayor Edward C. Codilla tasked to address the problems in the master list. The TWG is made up of officers of the Association of Barangay Chairmen.

Controversy arose when it was deemed that the master list did not conform to the provisions of Memorandum Circular no. 24 of the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) entitled Guidelines for the Implementation of the Emergency Shelter Assistance (ESA) Project for Families with Partially and Totally Damaged Houses Due to Typhoon Yolanda.

The guidelines provides, among others, that only families with a monthly income of less than P15,000 can benefit from ESA. But the master list contained names of prominent personalities known to be earning more than P15,000 a month. On the other hand, names of heads of poor families did not make it to the list.

City Administrator Francis Pepito clarified that DSWD prepared the master list based on the Disaster Assistance and Family Access Card (Dafac) submitted by survivors of typhoon Yolanda. The Dafac is the reference used by DSWD in providing relief aid to typhoon victims.

To come up with the master list, DSWD used as basis the Dafac which all Yolanda victims are eligible to fill up and submit, notwithstanding the guidelines provided for by Memo Circular no. 24, reason why names of prominent personalities made it to the master list, Pepito explained.

Aside from families who earn at least P15,000, others who are disqualified from receiving the ESA based on the guidelines are those who live in danger zones and bunkhouses, and those who have received shelter units from government and non-government organizations.

Atty. Pepito also clarified that the distribution of ESA is per family, not just per household as provided for in Section IV (Eligibility) no. 2 of the guidelines which states: “Families who are renting or sharing houses which are totally or partially damaged provided they are listed in the official DSWD list sourced through the DSWD-Disaster Family Access Card (DAFAC) submitted by the LGUs as renters or sharers of houses within safe or controlled areas;”

With barangay chairmen volunteering to eliminate disqualified names in their communities, it is expected that the number of beneficiaries in the master list will be reduced to a minimum. But Atty. Pepito stressed that the local government unit (LGU) can delete names but cannot add names.

This is in response to suggestions that the deleted names be replaced with qualified names. “Dili puwede ilisan ang listahan kay di man ato ang kuwarta,” Atty. Pepito said, adding that the LGU will work towards that end. “Mananghid gyud ta sa tag-iya sa kuwarta  ug sa naghimo sa programa. Paniguroan gyud nato nga ang kuwarta nga masobra magamit na para mahatag na nato sa mga kuwalipikado pero wala mabutang sa master list. Mao na ang gusto mahitabo ni mayor.”

Atty. Pepito further appealed to the Ormocanons for sobriety while the TWG fixes the problems. “Mangayo gyud mi ninyo og tabang nga kini nga problema masulbad. Dili ta mutuo sa mga istorya nga kahibalo ta nga malisyoso. Dili ta mutuo sa mga istorya gikan sa kilid-kilid. Mangadto gyud ta sa atong mga barangay officials para maklaro gyud.”