Quezon City – To demonstrate her openness to dialogue with various sectors, Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) Secretary Corazon Juliano-Soliman met with the leaders of GABRIELA and People Surge, an alliance of Typhoon Yolanda survivors from Eastern Visayas, yesterday at the DSWD Central Office and discussed issues on relief distribution, provision of P40,000 cash assistance, and the scrapping of the ‘No Build Zone”.
It can be recalled that the two groups were insisting to meet with Sec. Soliman here in Manila. The Secretary, though, already met with the other members of the groups in Tacloban City last week.
After meeting the two groups composed of about a hundred individuals carrying placards at the DSWD grounds, Sec. Soliman briefly welcomed them then led their leaders to the Boardroom where the dialogue was held.
Sec. Soliman requested Sister Edita Eslopor, one of the leaders of People Surge to lead the group in prayer.
Productive dialogue
It was a productive dialogue that lasted for one and a half hour with Sec. Soliman answering one by one the issues raised by the groups.
She reiterated that relief distribution will not end this month belying the claim of the groups that there are printed announcements around Tacloban City announcing the end of distribution this month.
Sec. Soliman further explained that DSWD will consult with the different local government units (LGUs) in the region to determine who among the victims will still be needing relief support as some are already able to work and can stand on their own feet.
She assured that relief supply will continue to be provided to those who are considered to be part of the vulnerable sector or those pregnant women, persons with disabilities, senior citizens, sickly, and solo parents.
Sec. Soliman also asked the group to cooperate with the Department in reaching those they claim to have not been given relief goods. She requested that they provide the Department with the details of those concerned barangays so they can be served since based on DSWD report all 171 municipalities within the 50-kilometer radius along the typhoon’s path have been reached.
The Secretary further explained that relief goods are distributed by the local Social Welfare and Development Office since DSWD is devolved to the LGUs.
“We give the relief goods to the local chief executives based on their request. LGUs distribute these to the barangays. We cannot go directly to the barangays because the Local Government Code does not allow us to do so,” she said.
She shared to the leaders the DSWD text hotline (09209463766) and encouraged them to tell their members to send their complaints on relief distribution.
No dwelling zones
Sec. Soliman said that the government cannot scrap the No Build Zone Policy since based on a study by the Department of Science and Technology, the Eastern Seaboard has a history of storm surge.
She added that families, Rich or poor, should not build structures in the prohibited zones.
For tourism purposes, she emphasized that beach cottages can be built for picnics but not for permanent dwelling.
On fishermen affected by this policy, the Secretary said that the national and local governments are planning to build a “banca garage” where they can dock their bancas and assign a lookout to ensure that no one will rebuild in the area.
Cash relief
Sec. Soliman also said that their demand for outright P40,000 cash relief for each survivor cannot be considered.
“It is not feasible since based on policies and rules of the Commission on Audit, there should be details on where the P40,000 should be spent,” she said.
She however said that the affected families can get cash assistance through the Cash-for-Work (CFW) which started in November and December, initially benefitting 16,234 families.
The second wave of the CFW will start this month.
Proposal
With one of the leaders raising that they are given a runaround by government officials, Sec. Soliman committed to assign a DSWD personnel to assist them in developing a proposal to ensure that members of the People Surge can benefit from the CFW.
However, Sister Eslopor said that the proposal has to be discussed first in the central committee.
The dialogue ended peacefully with Sec. Soliman accompanying the leaders to rejoin their members who were waiting outside.
Sis. Eslopor also thanked Sec. Soliman for the opportunity and time given to them for this dialogue. ###