The Central Visayas regional office of the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) clarified that not all families affected by the onslaught of typhoon Odette are eligible to receive P5,000 cash assistance from the national government agency.
According to DSWD-7 Asst. Regional Director Shalaine Lucero, fund shortage is the reason for the impossibility of every family to receive the cash assistance.
She added that her office was shocked to receive orders from the Office of the President to give cash aid to all families affected by the typhoon because the agency has no idea where to get the funds’ source.
There are about 975,158 families residing in Central Visayas who have been listed to be typhoon victims. If every family will be given P5,000 each, the agency would need more than P4 billion in funds, according to reports.
She bared that the agency lacks the funds to provide every family, and, instead, would focus first to help the families with totally damaged houses.
It can be remembered that before 2021 ended, in a televised pronouncement, President Duterte said that every family affected by the typhoon will receive P5,000 in cash aid.
He even assured that the government has the budget for the cash aid.
In a visit to Bohol last Dec. 18, 2021, the president made a separate pledge to release 2 billion in funds to help Bohol recover from the fury of typhoon Odette.
