DSWD comes up with more guidelines for P5-k aid to Yolanda victims

The Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) on Friday released additional guidelines on the distribution of P5,000 financial assistance to Typhoon Yolanda victims in order to ensure efficiency.

The Memorandum Circular No. 08 issued by DSWD or the “Supplemental Guidelines ensuring the efficient and speedy implementation of the P5,000 Presidential Financial Assistance (5KPFA),” would allow eligible beneficiaries without identification cards and those in areas that do not have people's organizations (POs) to still claim their grant provided that they get a certification from their city or municipal social welfare and development officers (C/MSWDOs) in their respective local government units (LGUs).

According to the DSWD, the 5KPFA provides P5,000 financial assistance through a cash card issued by Land Bank of the Philippines to eligible households in Region Vi, VII, VIII, and Negros Island Region (NIR), “without distinction as to the extent of damage to the home.”

DSWD said that those in isolated areas or do not have access to Automated Teller Machines or the Land Bank of the Philippines and its bank partners will be given a “direct cash or check pay-out.”

DSWD Secretary Judy Taguiwalo said that the DSWD decided to issue “Supplemental Guidelines” in order to address operational concerns of the 5KPFA.

“The objective is to provide the much-needed assistance to these families who have been denied of their rights and privileges. That is our goal as part of our principle to provide their efficient and compassionate public service,” Taguiwalo said in a statement.

“We are well aware that too much time has passed since the 'Yolanda' survivors first called for assistance from the DSWD. We know that the 5KPFA is a small amount and far from being enough to cover all the damage their lives and livelihoods sustained. All the same, we hope that it will be of some use to them,” she added.

DSWD said that its field offices from the affected regions have validated about 79,581 households, in which 54,277 were already evaluated as qualified beneficiaries. The department said that they will complete the distribution of assistance by the end of June 2017.

It also said that they are aiming a total of 196,258 households with damaged houses to receive the P5,000 cash aid.

DSWD in a press release said that the following documents must be submitted in order to claim the financial aid:

• Accomplished Financial Assistance Application Form, indicating the demographic information of the household-beneficiary;
• Certification issued by the proper barangay authorities on the residency of the household-beneficiary;
• Any valid Identification Card (ID); and
• Certification executed by the beneficiary that the household has not received any of the following assistance: Emergency Shelter Assistance (ESA), in cash or in kind, Core Shelters from DSWD under the Core Shelter Assistance Program (CSAP) and Modified Shelter Assistance Program (MSAP); Permanent housing from National Housing Authority (NHA); or
• Any other shelter or housing grant from the government.

DSWD also reminded that Yolanda victims must also qualify to the following criteria before they can avail the financial aid:

• The dwelling of the household must have been damage by 'Yolanda,' regardless of the extent of the damage or ownership of the lot on which the house is built;
• The household requested assistance from the DSWD on or before November 8, 2016, and must either;
• Have been included in one of the lists submitted to the DSWD by People's Organizations (Pos) and Non-government Organizations (NGOs) on or before November 8, 2016;
• Have been included in one of the lists of unfunded ESA family-beneficiaries submitted on June 22, 2016 to the Department of Budget and Management (DBM); or
• Have submitted, on or before November 8, 2016, a complaint to the DSWD of not having received assistance, which must have been confirmed and validated by the DSWD.

—NB, GMA News