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More ‘Emong’ victims receive assistance from DSWD
Date:
July 8, 2010
Mayor Hernani A. Braganza led the handing of emergency shelter assistance (ESA) to 817 families or second batch of recipients during the simple ceremony held yesterday at Plaza Marcelo Ochave.
Braganza, who personally requested said aid augmentation from the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) Central Office last year for the 5, 358 victims of Typhoon Emong here in 2009, thanked his citymates for their patience and understanding.
“You should have received it as early as April but a provision from Comelec prevented the DSWD and the city government from releasing the fund,” he said even as he extended the city government’s deepest gratitude to said agency for its major contribution in helping rebuild the lives of his citymates.
In his letter to the city mayor dated April 8, 2010, DSWD Regional Director Leonardo Reynoso informed that the ESA and Cash for Work fund amounting to P 11. 167M, which is part of the 2nd trance for Alaminos was already available.
But the said fund could only be transferred to the city’s coffer after the election ban has already been lifted.
“Nevertheless, what is important is that finally you will have it today,” the vibrant chief executive continued.
“We hope that it will still be of big help to your family especially now that we are again bracing for the rainy and typhoon season.”
Typhoons Cosme and Emong battered the city on both month of May in 2008 and 2009, respectively, leaving thousands of Alaminians homeless and destroyed millions of pesos worth of agricultural products and properties.
Braganza then immediately sought assistance from national government agencies and benevolent entities and fellow Alaminians working abroad to help in the rebuilding efforts initiated by the city government.
He also ordered the swift release of calamity fund to provide emergency relief to all those affected residents and for them to quickly get back on their feet.
Various donations reached the city in the form of food packs, clothing, GI sheets and other essentials which were distributed immediately to the most affected families in the city.
PAGASA earlier announced that at least fifteen typhoons are expected to visit our country, said the mayor.
He then reminded his citymates to make the necessary preparation that include ensuring that their houses are strong enough to withstand the nature’s wrath and to have enough supply of food and other essentials.
Braganza also urged the city residents to regularly clean their surroundings to avert a possible dengue outbreak and water borne disease.
He likewise advised his citymates to shun indiscriminate burning of garbage in order not to contribute to the nagging problem of climate change which is also parallel to the city’s vision of a Zero-Waste Alaminos in the future.
“Please do away from destructive burning that might claim lives and valuable properties,” he reminded.
“Instead, recycle the non-biodegradable materials and convert organic matters into compost as a better source of fertilizers for our plants,” added the mayor, who is one of the prime movers of Go Organic Movement on which the city is one of the project study areas of the DA’s Organic FIELDS Support Program.
City social welfare and development (CSWD) office Imelda Ruiz said that of the 817 beneficiaries, 566 families whose dwellings were totally destroyed by the typhoon got the full P 3, 500 assistance.
While, 251 beneficiaries received 2, 500 in addition to the P 1, 000 which was already been released to them last year.
Ruiz disclosed that the first trance amounting to P 1.538 M was distributed to the 746 beneficiaries last June 24, 2009.
There were also 703 families that have received GI sheets from the city government last April 2010 and were delisted from official list of the would-be recipients of ESA and Cash for Work.
It was learned that the CSWDO had already submitted to the DSWD regional office the list of replacement which is subject to the approval of the regional director.
The next scheduled release of ESA and cash for work for the remaining beneficiaries is tentatively set on the 19th of this month. (CIO)
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