TACLOBAN CITY, Leyte—A group of no-build-zone dwellers here trooped to the DSWD’s Regional Office 8 to submit their petition for their inclusion in the agency’s Emergency Shelter Assistance for the victims of typhoon Yolanda last 2013.
The recent issuance of the ESA by Social Welfare Secretary Dinky Soliman has been criticized because of the non-inclusion of the government and private employees who have access to housing loans.
The survivors who were affected by these guidelines said the policy was unfair to them because they were also victims of the typhoon and were entitled to government assistance.
The guidelines also exclude those who were living in the no-build zones.
BAKHAWAN chairman Chris Durana said the new guidelines should be not be followed because those discriminated against the Yolanda survivors.
“Ibasura ang guidelines ni Dinky Soliman. Ibigay ang ESA para sa lahat ng may green card nang walang kundisyon at diskriminasyon,” Durana told Manila Standard.
The typhoon victims called for immediate action on their petition.
It has been one year since Josephine Atencio, 57, of Anibong District, borrowed money from a lending company just to fix her house. “Nahihirapan na kami sa baybayin dagat. Sana naman po habang hindi pa kami nililipat doon sa sinasabing permanent shelter ay alalayan kami sa pagpapagawa ng among tahanan,” Atencio said.
Most of the residents in the no-build zone don’t know on when they will be relocated. All they ask from Social Welfare is assistance for now.
But according to DSWD Regional Director Nestor Ramos, they can’t do anything because of the guidelines from the National office.
“It’s the same story,” he said.
Last month, the Tacloban City Council led by Vice Mayor Jerry Yaokasin have requested the DSWD National office to expand the coverage of the ESA. “It is to expand the coverage, not limit. Kasi lahat naman nabiktima ng bagyo di ba?” Yaokasin said.
Based on the records of the agency, out of the 63 towns including cities that were affected by Yolanda, the LGU of Tanauan and Tolosa have already distributed the ESA while there was an ongoing distribution of the same in Tacloban City this month based on the guidelines issued by Soliman.