First day of ESA distribution successful

Mayor Ondo assists a beneficiary claim his shelter assistance.

THE distribution of the Emergency Shelter Assistance was smooth sailing on the first day with no major incident or hitches reported. All 456 beneficiaries from RM Tan trooped to the City Hall. Of that number, 327 whose houses were destroyed received P15,713.25 each for a total of P5,138,232.75.

Another 128 beneficiaries whose homes were damaged got P10,000 each totaling P1,280,000. All in all, the City Treasurer’s Office (CTO) disbursed P6,418,232.75 for a releasing rate of 98%. Only 14 claimants from 11 destroyed and three damaged houses were not able to collect for various reasons, from the death or absence of the listed beneficiary to lack of supporting documents.

City Administrator Francis Pepito advised the CTO to relax the rules to enable the 14 beneficiaries to claim their benefits the next day. More people are expected on the second day from Libertad -- 1,042 claimants to be exact, but the CTO is confident the disbursement will be as successful as that of the previous day.

Mayor Ondo Codilla guides an elderly woman towards the counter. (Photos by Joseph Levi Sausa)