Palace: Funding for Odette-displaced families to reach LGUs by Dec. 29

Malacañang said Tuesday that the P5,000 cash assistance per family displaced by Typhoon Odette would be released to local government units (LGUs) by Wednesday, December  29.

Acting presidential spokesperson Karlo Nograles said distribution of the cash assistance would be similar to the distribution of cash aid under the government's Social Amelioration Program (SAP) at the height of lockdowns due to COVID-19.

"The aid for ,typhoon Odette victims will be the same setup as the SAP. The fund will be downloaded to the Local Government Units monitored by the DSWD and the DILG," Nograles said during a press briefing, referring to the Department of Social Welfare and Development and Department of the Interior and Local Government.

"DBM (Department of Budget and Management) is looking for a fund source, but they promised that by tomorrow, the funds will be downloaded to LGUs," Nograles added.

"These are the most affected, severely affected families as identified by LGUs, with the help of the DILG. Within the day, we will be identifying these families."

Nograles said that this P5,000 cash assistance for typhoon-affected families is different from the P5,000 cash shelter assistance to be given by National Housing Authority (NHA).

Human Settlements and Urban Development Secretary Eduardo del Rosario earlier said that the NHA shelter assistance would be initially provided to 97,500 families Regions 4B, 7, 8, 10 and 13 and will be worth P487.5 million for Regions 4B, 7, 8, 10 and 13.

"The most important right now is to identify families who will receive this [immediate P5,000] cash assistance," Nograles added.

The P5,000-per-family assistance was announced by President Rodrigo Duterte during his weekly Talk to the People on Monday night.

Asked when this P5,000 cash assistance would reach beneficiaries, Nograles said, "We will be relying on the speed and efficiency of our LGUs, with the assistance of the DSWD and the police and military."

The reported death toll from Typhoon Odette has increased to 397 as of Tuesday morning, the National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council (NDRRMC) said. Of this number, 59 have been confirmed while the rest is still being validated. —KBK, GMA News