LEGAZPI CITY — The Department of Social Welfare and Development’s (DSWD) office in the Bicol region, together with the local government units (LGUs), will start facilitating the distribution of the Emergency Shelter Assistance (ESA) to families in the provinces of Albay, Camarines Sur, and Catanduanes whose houses were destroyed by Typhoon Nina in December 2016.
DSWD Regional Director Arnel Garcia, in an interview Friday, said only those included in the validated list of qualified beneficiaries will be entitled to the cash aid.
“The schedule of the ESA payout will not be disclosed by DSWD to the public for security purposes. The ESA claimants can directly contact the LGUs that will announce the date of assistance distribution,” Garcia added.
During the payout, the claimants must bring a valid government-issued ID, with picture and signature. If the claimant is dead, the household member who is included on the ESA form can present a document that will prove the relationship, such as marriage or birth certificate. If the beneficiary is a member of the Indigenous Peoples community, the claimant should bring a certification from the barangay council and municipal social welfare and development office.
Families with partially damaged houses will receive PHP10,000 to be paid through the provincial LGU. For totally damaged houses, families will receive PHP5,000 of the P30,000 cash assistance and the balance will be distributed by the municipal LGU.
Similarly, the provincial government of Camarines Sur will do the payout for the municipality of Libmanan.
The payroll prepared by DSWD regional office is the sole basis of the ESA payout.
The ESA is the provision of emergency “self-build” shelter assistance through limited financial assistance to augment the resources of families affected by disasters.
It enables them to purchase shelter materials required in constructing or repairing their damaged houses as a result of disasters. (/PNA)
