SHELTER AID FOR QUAKE-HIT VICTIMS. Personnel of the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) Regional Field Office 3 start on Wednesday (July 31, 2019) the distribution of emergency shelter assistance to those whose houses were either totally or partially damaged by an earthquake last April 22. As per DSWD assessment, there are 301 validated damaged houses in Pampanga, of which 248 were partially damaged and 53 were totally destroyed. (Photo courtesy of the DSWD Field Office 3)
CITY OF SAN FERNANDO, Pampanga — The Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) regional office here started on Wednesday the release of emergency shelter assistance (ESA) to those whose houses were either partially or totally damaged by the 6.1 magnitude earthquake last April 22.
DSWD Regional Director Marites Maristela said the schedule of ESA payout in Pampanga is from July 31 to August 2.
“Starting today, the beneficiaries from the towns of Sasmuan, Bacolor, Guagua, Sta Rita and the City of San Fernando will receive their shelter assistance,” Maristela said.
She said that the ESA payout for beneficiaries in the towns of Porac and Floridablanca will be on August 1 and 2.
As per DSWD assessment, there are 301 validated damaged houses in Pampanga where 248 were partially damaged and 53 were totally destroyed.
Meanwhile, the DSWD official also said that the payout for ESA beneficiaries in Bataan and Zambales is yet to be scheduled in August.
Based on the DSWD report, there were a total of 3,135 validated damaged houses in the provinces of Pampanga, Bataan and Zambales of which 2,230 are partially damaged and 905 were totally damaged.
She noted that ESA beneficiaries underwent validation process before receiving the shelter financial assistance.
“The cash aid aims to help the beneficiaries buy construction materials to rebuild their damaged houses. To ensure that it is duly spent for the purchase of the materials, a receipt should be provided by the beneficiaries to the DSWD,” she said.
Under the program, a total of PHP33,000 was provided for each earthquake victim with totally damaged house, PHP3,000 of which was for labor costs, equivalent for 10 days of "cash for work".
On the other hand, some PHP11,500 was given to each earthquake victim with partially damaged house wherein PHP1,500 was allotted for five days of "cash for work".
She added that after one month, the DSWD will conduct monitoring to ensure that the financial assistance received by the beneficiaries was indeed used for the reconstruction of the damaged houses. (PNA)
