by Venus G. Villanueva
Kalibo, Aklan (13 November) -- A total of P11,050,000 in shelter assistance has been extended to Aklanon victims who lost their houses to Typhoon Frank on June 21, 2008.
Records from the Provincial Social Welfare and Development Office (PSWDO) here show that of the amount, P5,860,000 was extended to beneficiaries from Kalibo, while P1,910,000 was given to Numancia beneficiaries. On the other hand, typhoon victims from Makato, another town devastated by Typhoon Frank, just recently received P1,130,000 shelter assistance from the DSWD.
The aid is through the Emergency Shelter Assistance (ESA) of the DSWD. Aklan typhoon victims were the first recipients under this scheme.
The beneficiaries got P10,000 each. Aklan had 586 beneficiaries; Numancia, 191, and Makato, 113.
For Core Shelter Assistance with 43 residents from Kalibo as beneficiaries, a total of P2,150,000 was extended with the recipients receiving P50,000 each. Under this scheme, beneficiaries will build houses on a lot provided by the municipal government of Kalibo with uniform designs. As their counterpart, beneficiaries will provide the labor component.
For Cash For Work Program, another scheme to help Aklan typhoon victims, the provincial government paid a total of P511,100 to beneficiaries who cleaned the Capitol Grounds during the early weeks after the typhoon. For Kalibo, the DSWD paid a total of P64,150 to 345 workers from its four barangays who did clean-up jobs in their respective areas, while P355,300 was paid to 190 workers coming from Numancia's 7 barangays totaling P1,511,550.
Records from the PSWDO also revealed that donations in kind extended to the Province of Aklan from various donors reached P28,043,993 while cash donations reached P7,822,749.88 for a total of P35,866,743.66.
Presently, many Aklanons who lost their homes are still awaiting additional releases for shelter assistance. Releases of P10,000 each were only for victims under Category A, or those whose houses were totally washed out but no releases were made yet for those under Category B and C.
Based on records provided by the Provincial Disaster Coordinating Council (PDCC) chaired by Governor Carlito S. Marquez, 11,210 houses were totally destroyed by the typhoon throughout Aklan while 43,068 were partially damaged. (PIA)