Pepito reiterates rules on unqualified ESA beneficiaries

Victoriano Roble (in white shirt) and Bernardo Espinosa (wearing checkered polo) happily receive their shelter assistance from Mayor Ondo Codilla (middle). Both from RM Tan, the two men are the first ESA beneficiaries who claimed their share. Roble and Espinosa received P10,000 and P15,713.25, respectively. Others in photo are OIC City Treasurer Delia Vilbar and City Administrator Francis Pepito. (Photo by Joseph Levi Sausa)

CLAIMANTS of the Emergency Shelter Assistance (ESA) should make sure they are qualified beneficiaries before going to the City Hall to avoid problems that may delay the releasing. City Administrator Francis Pepito made the appeal during the first day of the ESA distribution at City Hall.

Pepito also asked for understanding for the delay in the ESA distribution. “Ang kuwarta sa gobyerno dili parehas sa private nga mahatag ora-orada. Naa pa tay proseso nga subayon,” he explained. Nevertheless, Ormoc is the first from among the latest batch of local governments where ESA funds were downloaded including the neighboring towns of Albuera, Merida, Matag-ob and Villaba.

Pepito reiterated his call for non-qualified beneficiaries not to attempt to claim the ESA after he received reports of settlers in danger zones who refused to be relocated to transitional shelters on the premise that by doing so, they will forfeit their share of the ESA.

Memorandum Circular (MC) No. 24 of the Department of Social Welfare and Development disqualifies beneficiaries of government shelter units from the ESA. But the same MC also disqualifies those living within the 40-meter easement from bodies of water.

“Ayaw na lang ninyo pugsa. Kahibalo naman ta nga dili ta entitled. Nganong ato man gyud pugson nga dili man gyud ato ning kuwarta? Wa man tay mahimo, di man ato ning kuwarta. Mu-follow ta sa naghatag sa kuwarta, sa nasyonal. Unsaon man nato, di man ni ato?” Pepito said.

He also appealed for the Ormocanons’ understanding. “Naa man tay patakaran. Kung magpataka ta’g gasto sa kuwarta sa gobyerno, mapreso man ta. Mao nga muhangyo ta nga magsinabtanay ta, magtinabangay lagi ta. Sa tinuod lang, naglisud sad mi sa syudad kay gi-instruct-an lang kami pag-implementar niining programa sa nasyonal. Unya naa silay gihatag nga guidelines nga obligado tumanon sa syudad nga dili namo puwede piyongan.”

Pepito stressed that the city officials’ hands are tied by the ESA guidelines. “Balikon nako, kining kuwartaha, sa nasyonal ni, dili sa syudad. Obligado tang mutuman strictly gyud sa patakaran sa nasyonal. Sakit man pero mao man na nga patakaran, ato lang i-follow.”