Mayor Ondo lauded for successful distribution of ESA

Mayor Ondo Codilla was present everyday during the
distribution of the ESA to ensure the procedure was
smooth-sailing and to detect hitches that needed
adjustments. (Photo by Joseph Levi Sausa)

DEPARTMENT of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) Regional Director Nestor B. Ramos lauded the local government unit (LGU) for the fast and orderly distribution of the Emergency Shelter Assistance (ESA). “I was informed that the amount that was downloaded to Ormoc nahuman na [og hatag] while the other municipalities na una pa [nakadawat] sa Ormoc wa pa mahuman hangtud karon,” he said.

The ESA has become a contentious issue due to the strict guidelines imposed by the DSWD on the eligible beneficiaries. It also didn’t help that detractors of the administration rode on the issue by fanning the flames of discontent and complaints among the people.

On June 1, DSWD downloaded P689,369,934.25 to be given to victims of super typhoon Yolanda. Families with damaged homes received P10,000 while those whose houses were destroyed got P15,713.25. There are 52,325 beneficiaries in the master list.

The distribution entailed elaborate planning and preparations considering the thousands of claimants. It was decided that the distribution will be done per barangays at the City Hall for security reasons. Arrangements were made with Land Bank to assure continuous money supply so as not to disrupt the process.

A set of guidelines was drafted to ensure only the actual beneficiaries or their legitimate representatives can claim the moneys. Even before the actual distribution, the City Legal Office had to assist the beneficiaries in preparing their documentary requirements which entailed tons of paperwork.

One requirement unique to Ormoc is the issuance by all claimants of an affidavit attesting that they are qualified beneficiaries. DSWD Memorandum Circular No. 24 s. 2014. 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.

It was learned that these restrictions is one of the reasons why other LGUs are having a hard time distributing the ESA up to this time even if the funds have been downloaded to them long before. The affidavit was resorted to in order to avoid post-audit problems.

During the actual distribution which began on June 15, CCTV cameras were already installed, military and police presence was ensured, and a crowd control system put in place that necessitated the deployment of 30 Civil Security Unit personnel.

Mayor Edward C. Codilla was present everyday to ensure that the distribution was smooth-sailing and to detect hitches that needed adjustment. The distribution was formally concluded on Aug. 3 or after more than one month. But even after that, the City Treasurer’s Office (CTO) continued to release funds to beneficiaries who did not make it on their scheduled releasing.

Based on its report as of Sept. 7, the CTO released P655,272,593.25 . This translates to P34,097,341 unclaimed ESA, presumably from those not qualified under MC No. 24. Of the expected 23,323 beneficiaries under the damaged home category, 21,780 claimed. Under the destroyed home, 27,841 claimed out of the 29,029 in the master list.

“Gikalipay namo nga hapsay ang pag-distribute sa ESA sa Ormoc,” Ramos declared. “Maayo ang strategy nga gi-implement sa office of the mayor. Hapsay kaayo ang implementasyon. I think the credit should go to the office of the mayor and all the employees involved.”