BY GILBERY P. BAYORAN
Numerous residents of Isabela, Negros Occidental, who were victims of typhoon Odette in December last year, yesterday complained that they were not included in the list of beneficiaries of the P5,000 special financial assistance from the National Housing Authority.
Amid numerous complaints aired by disgusted residents, the distribution of P14,470,000 financial assistance to 2,894 families in different barangays of Isabela, however went on without any hitches, under the tight watch provincial government security personnel, policemen and 62nd Infantry Battalion soldiers.
The NHA, as facilitated by the provincial government of Negros Occidental, gave P5,000 each to families whose houses were destroyed by Typhoon Odette.
Similar complaints were also aired by some typhoon affected victims in Cadiz City and Victorias City.
Mayor Irene Montilla yesterday said that more than 14,000 typhoon-affected families in Isabela were included in the list. Maybe not all had been validated, she explained.
We have complained this a long time ago, she said, adding that “one of the reasons that they were not included in the list, maybe because Isabela was never placed under a state of calamity by the Sangguniang Bayan,” which prompted the national government to allocate only P2.7 million, compared to bigger amounts for other affected local government units.
With regard to those who did in the list, Montilla said “that’s for the Department of Social Welfare and Development to answer.”
But she admitted that some affected families received assistance earlier from the provincial government of Negros Occidental and donations such as GI sheets, food packs other resources, which were divided so they can give to the majority. These came from various sources, including their family, Senators Juan Miguel Zubiri and Joel Villanueva, among others.
There were just too many who were affected. We can’t afford to give everyone,” Montilla said.
NHA allocated P91 million special housing assistance to families affected by the typhoon, but distribution in Negros Occidental was delayed to election bans.
Similar NHA financial assistance will also be distributed on June 10 in Sipalay City.*