Tacloban City, July 21 – The Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) Field Office VIII started today the pay-out of Emergency Shelter Assistance (ESA) to the second batch of Pantawid Pamilyang Pilipino Program (Pantawid Pamilya) beneficiaries of Tacloban who were affected by super typhoon Yolanda. The pay – out is being conducted at the Pantawid Pamilya Leyte Provincial Operations Office at Fatima Village, this city.
A total of 4,917 program beneficiaries are targeted for the said payout, out of whom 3,830 households have totally damaged houses who are to receive P30,000 each; and 1,087 households with partially damaged houses for a cash grant of P10,000 per beneficiary.
Lorlie Pacuran, 38 years old, a Pantawid Pamilya beneficiary from Brgy. 83B who just received P30,000 shelter assistance, expressed her sincere appreciation by saying, “Damo nga salamat ha DSWD. Malipayon ako kay mapapa-ayad ko na it amon balay para mayda na maupay na urukyan it akon mga anak. (Thank you vey much to DSWD. I am happy because I can already have my house reconstructed so that my children will have a better place to live in.)”
The general guidelines for ESA will also apply to Pantawid Pamilya beneficiaries, such that those living in unsafe zones and those who received or who are to benefit full housing assistance from non-government organizations or other sources will not be included in the program.
“The government wants the affected families to use their shelter assistance to build back better homes in safe areas,” DSWD Regional Director Nestor Ramos said.
Meanwhile, Pantawid Pamilya Regional Project Coordinator Marichu Bustillos urged program beneficiaries to coordinate with their assigned City Links for their pay-out schedules and instructions.
Earlier on November last year, the DSWD Field Office Eight conducted its initial distribution of ESA grants to the first batch of Pantawid Pamilya beneficiaries from this city, comprising a total of 1,357 households, 984 of which are totally affected and 373, partially affected.###