Mahaplag, Leyte – More than five months after Typhoon ‘Yolanda’, a growing sense of recovery and rehabilitation is notable for the Sara-Osos siblings, who have been living by themselves in Hilusig Village, this town.
Thanks to Jonel, 22, the oldest in a brood of six who never stopped to bring his younger siblings to the road to recovery and rehabilitation.
As a welder under the Cash-for-Asset of the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) and the municipal government, Jonel slowly tries to bring back normalcy in their lives.
Jonel is also happy that basic services in the town are back like the stable supply of electricity from the Dulag Rural Electric Cooperation (DURELCO) and clean water flowing from community taps.
He also shared that farmers have returned to the fields, the market abounds with goods, and roads are cleared of debris.
Jonel acknowledged that the national government, through the different line agencies, is instrumental to this big improvement in their town.
He cited that DSWD never neglected them during the times they needed food.
“Dako kayo akong pasalamat sa DSWD kay wala mi gipasagdaan kay ka-16 jud mi nakadawat bisan ug layo kayo mi sa Tacloban City (We thank DSWD for not neglecting us because we received relief goods 16 times even if we live far from Tacloban City),” Jonel shared.
This town is 71 kilometers south of Tacloban City and is the last municipality of Leyte province in the south.
Through the Municipal Social Welfare and Development Office (MSWDO), DSWD distributed relief goods and other rehabilitation materials to survivors of ‘Yolanda’ in the five urban barangays and 23 rural villages of this town.
Jonel’s family is also a beneficiary of the Pantawid Pamilyang Pilipino Program of the DSWD receiving cash grants to meet his younger siblings’ education and health needs.
Holding on
Jonel said that his father died some years back due to a road accident while her mother is working in Manila.
He lamented that ‘Yolanda’ washed away the home built by their father. They are now staying with an aunt.
Jonel said his determination to assume the responsibilities of his father to his younger siblings is his motivation to look for other means to meet their daily needs, augmenting the meager amount from his mother.
“Akong gihulat nga mahuman nako ang Cash-for-Asset aron akong itukod og balay (I am waiting for the completion of the Cash-for-Asset so that I can use my income to rebuild a new house),” Jonel said.
Jonel is thankful that his younger siblings are Pantawid Pamilya Pilipino Program beneficiaries.
He said that, with the program, he is confident that his siblings will be able to go to school and finish even just until high school.
Being a beneficiary of the Cash-for-Asset and Pantawid Pamilya, Jonel finds it easier to fulfil his obligations to his siblings. He vows to find other jobs after he has completed the Cash-for-Asset to ensure that their journey to normalcy will continue. ###