DILG Turns Over P67M Help to Yolanda-hit Areas

The Department of Interior and Local Government (DILG) distributed on Friday at least P67 million worth of assistance to affected local government units (LGU) in north Cebu.

Of the 16 Yolanda-hit LGUs, 13 received the checks totaling to P67.2 million from the DILG during the turnover held at the Capitol Social Hall. The towns which did not receive the assistance during the distribution were Tudela town, Poro and San Francisco in Camotes Island.

DILG Undersecretary Francisco Fernandez explained that the 13 LGUs incurred only partial damages to facilities. The civic center of Tudela town which incurred severe damage were already taken cared of by the Department of Public Works and Highways, a component of the Reconstruction Assistance on Yolanda (RAY) project.

As for the towns of Poro and San Francisco in Camotes Island, they did not submit damage report, he said.

The DILG set aside a total of P82.7 million, through its RAY project, to fund the reconstruction and repair of municipal halls, civic centers and public markets in the affected LGUs.

The first tranche which amounted to more than P67, 231, 000 in total was given out yesterday. The second tranche which covers the remaining amount would be released once the concerned LGUs has submitted a Report of Disbursement or liquidation to the Commission on Audit (COA) which shows that at least 50 percent of the first tranche has been disbursed, including the LGU counterpart fund.

Apart from this, Fernandez said the LGUs should also present report that shows at least 80 percent physical accomplishment and progress photos of construction, signed by the subproject manager and the mayor.

The funding of the DILG was based from the Program of Works submitted by the affected LGUs. The biggest amount of P26.8 million was already earmarked to the municipality of Bantayan, one of the areas that was badly hit by the super typhoon Yolanda in November last year.

Bantayan yesterday received P21.4 million in check for the first tranche. Daanbantayan was also one of the recipients.

“This is a good start. Actually ongoing na ang among construction. But timely gyod pod ni,” said Daanbantayan Mayor Augusto Corro.