As super typhoon Yolanda marks its third year on November 8, 2016, DSWD Secretary Judy Taguiwalo made a meaningful two – day visit to Leyte province beginning Nov. 7. She first graced the Conference on Yolanda Response organized by the National Council of Churches in the Philippines (NCCP) at CAWACSI Training Center in San Jose, Tacloban City.
Part of her solidarity message was an assurance to address the complaints of close to 200,000 hopeful beneficiaries of the Department’s Emergency Shelter Assistance (ESA) – about 83, 000 from Panay and more than 80, 000 from Eastern Visayas.
However, the DSWD top official emphasized that the grievances on the shelter assistance would still be validated. “Nakiki-isa ako sa sa mga hinaing ng mamamayan,” (“I am one with our countrymen’s gripes.”) as an express of sympathy for their being excluded from the list of recipients.
Secretary Taguiwalo expressed that the problem of exclusion stemmed from politics, or for being really disqualified, particularly those living in No Build/Danger Zones. Right now, she revealed that the ESA is under study.
After the NCCP opening rites, the DSWD top official together with her group from DSWD Central Office as well as the team from the DSWD Field Office VIII headed by Director Restituto Macuto, proceeded to Isabel town, about three hour – ride from Tacloban. She wanted to check the state of said municipality after reports reached her office that it was affected by flooding due to incessant rains last Friday, Nov. 4. In an hour-long discussion, Mayor Saturnino Medina, Jr. reported that the local government unit (LGU) had immediately responded because it was feared to be another flashflood like that of the Typhoon Uring tragedy in Ormoc, of November 5, 1991. Arminida Velez, the Municipal Social Welfare and Development Officer, told that there were some 19 families who evacuated and who went back to their homes the following day.
She added that the municipal government extended relief assistance to the evacuees. DSWD Regional Director Macuto, meanwhile, said the Field Office had earlier prepositioned family food packs to Isabel and all other LGUs, before the onset of typhoons months starting July.
He added for the municipality, DSWD provided 200 family food packs, 500 hygiene kits, and a number of “malongs.”
The Secretary pointed out to the local officials to always maintain a distribution list and ensure that those who are really in need will benefit the most. She also looked into their bodega such that the LGU conforms, as part of the agreement for the prepositioned goods, its orderliness and preservation measures. DSWD secretary makes memorable visit to Yolanda – hard hit Leyte
As super typhoon Yolanda marks its third year today, November 8, 2016, DSWD Secretary Judy Taguiwalo made a meaningful two – day visit to Leyte province beginning yesterday. She first graced the Conference on Yolanda Response organized by the National Council of Churches in the Philippines (NCCP) at CAWACSI Training Center in San Jose, Tacloban City.
Part of her solidarity message was an assurance to address the complaints of close to 200,000 hopeful beneficiaries of the Department’s Emergency Shelter Assistance (ESA) – about 83, 000 from Panay and more than 80, 000 from Eastern Visayas. She disclosed that from the Php1.2 B donations for Yolanda, there remains some Php35 M with the DSWD, and that said fund is not enough to fill in the gap.
However, the DSWD top official emphasized that the grievances on the shelter assistance would still be validated. “Nakiki-isa ako sa sa mga hinaing ng mamamayan,” (“I am one with our countrymen’s gripes.”) as an express of sympathy for their being excluded from the list of recipients.
Secretary Taguiwalo expressed that the problem of exclusion stemmed from politics, or for being really disqualified, particularly those living in No Build/Danger Zones. She promised that their agency is really serious at pursuing any injustices made on the Yolanda survivors.
Right now, she revealed that the ESA is under study.
After the NCCP opening rites, the DSWD top official together with her group from DSWD Central Office as well as the team from the DSWD Field Office VIII headed by Director Restituto Macuto, proceeded to Isabel town, about three hour – ride from Tacloban. She wanted to check the state of said municipality after reports reached her office that it was affected by flooding due to incessant rains last Friday, Nov. 4.
In an hour-long discussion, Mayor Saturnino Medina, Jr. reported that the local government unit (LGU) had immediately responded because it was feared to be another flashflood like that of the Typhoon Uring tragedy in Ormoc, of November 5, 1991. Arminida Velez, the Municipal Social Welfare and Development Officer, told that there were some 19 families who evacuated and who went back to their homes the following day.
She added that the municipal government extended relief assistance to the evacuees. DSWD Regional Director Macuto, meanwhile, said the Field Office had earlier prepositioned family food packs to Isabel and all other LGUs, before the onset of typhoons months starting July.
He added for the municipality, DSWD provided 200 family food packs, 500 hygiene kits, and a number of “malongs.”
The Secretary pointed out to the local officials to always maintain a distribution list and ensure that those who are really in need will benefit the most. She also looked into their bodega such that the LGU conforms, as part of the agreement for the prepositioned goods, its orderliness and preservation measures.#