ESA complainants turn out to be unqualified beneficiaries

THE 13^th Sangguniang Panlungsod’s Committee on Social Welfare, Senior Citizens, Women and Family conducted a meeting regarding complaints of beneficiaries who did not receive their share of the Emergency Shelter Assistance (ESA). The ESA is a cash grant provided to families whose house were either damaged or destroyed by super typhoon Yolanda.

Beneficiaries under the “totally damaged” home category were supposed to receive P30,000 which was given in two releases. The first release worth P15,713.25 was given beginning June 2015 and the second worth P14,286.75 started last December.

It was learned that most of the complainants that attended the meeting were housing beneficiaries of Red Cross, making them ineligible to receive the ESA based on the guidelines of the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) as contained in Memorandum Circular (MC) No. 24 s. 2014.

Section VII no. 4 of MC 24 specifically states that “For families listed in the DSWD-DFAC (Disaster Assistance Family Access Card) but have already received a permanent, full shelter assistance from international and non-government organizations, and from the private sector, said families shall no longer be eligible for ESA.”

City Legal Officer Ivan Verallo explained that during the first release on June 15, 2015, some of the complainants have not received their housing units, making them eligible for the ESA. During the second release last December however, they already fall under the category of MC 24 Section VII no. 4 as they have received their housing units.

Verallo said he already met and explained to the complainants their situation. But they told him they have some neighbors who are housing beneficiaries like them yet still received the second release. When asked however to identify those neighbors, the complainants were hesitant to give names.

Former DSWD regional director Nestor Ramos earlier said that giving ESA to unqualified families is considered technical malversation for which the releasing officer can be charged with. “Kung dili tungod sa guidelines sa DSWD, mahatagan mo,” Verallo told the complainants.

He adds: “Ingon pa gani ang Red Cross nga, nganong mangayo pa sila ana nga P30,000 man lang ang ESA (samtang) ang value sa (balay nga) among gihatag sa ilaha P80,000-P100,000?” Verallo said they will ask permission from DSWD OIC Director Restituto Macuto to release the ESA to housing beneficiaries.

Verallo warned that they will, upon DSWD’s order, initiate legal action against housing beneficiaries who received the ESA, adding that there are ways and means to do so even if the money is already spent. ESA recipients were made to sign an affidavit holding them liable if it is proven they are not qualified beneficiaries based on MC 24.

Verallo also informed they are studying if the excess amount from the unclaimed ESA can be given to qualified beneficiaries whose names, for one reason or another, did not make it to the master list. Other municipalities were made to remit the surplus amount back to DSWD.

“Sa among nasabtan, ang kadtong mga municipalities giuli gyud nila ang kuwarta nga sobra sa DSWD. Pero lagi kami diri ang amoa gyud gusto mahatag sa mga tawo. So kung muingon ang DSWD nga hatagi kanang sobra nga kuwarta ninyo ihatag to sa mga wa sa lista apan kuwalipikado, that would be a very good news kay ato gyud nang ihatag,” Verallo remarked.

However, this would mean another round of screening as the number of beneficiaries who claim to have not received the ESA have reached more than 10,000. “Apan kung muingon ang DSWD nga i-uli ka nila ang kuwarta nga sobra sama sa gibuhat sa ubang lungsod, wa gyud tay mabuhat,” added Verallo.

ESA complainants who did not receive the shelter aid hold a rally at the plaza on Jan. 29 to air their grievance. (Photo by Dante Raden)