COA approves city's plan to give cash assistance to typhoon victims
City Mayor Jerry Treñas said the Commission on Audit (COA) has given the city government a go signal to provide financial assistance to those whose houses were destroyed by the recent typhoon.
Treñas sought clarification from the commission on the release of financial assistance to the victims after the Sangguniang Panlungsod declared the city under the state of calamity. The chief executive wants to make sure if the release of financial assistance to the typhoon victims violate certain guidelines specifically on the rules and guidelines set forth by the National Disaster Coordinating Council (NDCC).
He said a local government unit can provide financial assistance to typhoon victims but not to fire victims. For fire victims, the local government unit can only provide relief and emergency assistance such as food and materials. The NDCC guidelines created confusion among the local government units on the release of the cash assistance.
Treñas said he could not categorically say yet on how much cash aid the city can extend to typhoon victims. He said they are still computing on how much fund they can apportion to the typhoon victims out of the P36 million calamity fund allocated for 2006.
He added it is much easier and convenient on the part of the victims to receive cash assistance from the city government. They can decide on what to buy and what to prioritize in the list of things they need.
The mayor said the list of recipients will be counterchecked before any cash assistance is given. The list will also be affirmed by barangay officials and the social workers prior to the release of any amount. Earlier, Treñas is contemplating to give P3,000 to families whose houses were totally destroyed and P1,500 for families whose houses were partially damaged.
The calamity fund is not solely for the typhoon victims but also to the repair of some streets and bridges in the city which are under the jurisdiction of the city government. He said a bridge in Dungon B, Jaro was also destroyed.
The Iloilo City District Engineering Office have already started to repair portions of streets considered as national highway such as the Diversion Road in Mandurriao and Sambag, Jaro, said Treñas.