CEBU CITY—Victims of Typhoon “Yolanda” in Tacloban City have asked President Rodrigo Duterte to discipline Presidential Assistant for the Visayas Michael Lloyd Dino for allegedly not doing his job as housing czar for the displaced victims of the 2013 super typhoon.
They appealed to the President to name another official who will take care of Visayans outside Cebu City, especially the victims of the super typhoon in Tacloban City in Leyte province.
“We suffered three long years under the ‘Yellow’ administration. But our continued suffering under your administration could only be because your point man in the Visayas is all about PR and not actual performance,” said the group of typhoon survivors.
Signed by Laarni Cabatingan, Vincent Basiano, Vicente Baula and Faye Quindor, the letter, dated Sept. 15, was addressed to President Duterte through Cabinet Secretary Leoncio B. Evasco Jr. and was received by Malacañang on Sept. 29.
The President directed Diño on Nov. 8, 2016 to use his office as a coordinating body of agencies tasked to provide permanent shelters and livelihood to those displaced.
On Nov. 28, 2016, Diño had announced his accomplishments in just 18 days, which he described as “Duterte Speed.”
“The problem besetting the resettlement effort three years after ‘Yolanda’ struck Leyte has been solved in just 18 days after President Duterte’s tapang and malasakit (courage and compassion) to the victims prompted him to issue presidential directives to finish it without delay,” Dino said.
Data from the National Housing Authority showed that as of Nov. 22, 2016, a total of 14,433 housing units have been bid out and 3,442 units have been substantially completed, while 3,974 units are fully completed. Around 2,101 units have already been awarded to beneficiaries.
However, the victims said the “glowing” OPAV press release is negated by the results of the House Committee on Housing investigation report.
The panel, upon the resolution of Eastern Samar Rep. Ben P. Evardone, recently inspected affected areas and claimed to have found mediocre structures.
The Housing Committee chairman, Rep. Alfredo A. Benitez of the Third District of Negros Occidental, said he saw “glaring substandard” construction of facilities for the housing projects and noted that during their visit, they met a whistle-blower who testified under oath during their formal hearing that the materials used in the construction of homes were subpar.