𝐆𝐎𝐕. 𝐏𝐀𝐌 𝐄𝐋𝐀𝐓𝐄𝐃 𝐀𝐒 𝐂𝐄𝐁𝐔𝐀𝐍𝐎𝐒 𝐅𝐈𝐍𝐀𝐋𝐋𝐘 𝐑𝐄𝐂𝐄𝐈𝐕𝐄 ₱𝟏𝟎𝐊 𝐇𝐎𝐔𝐒𝐈𝐍𝐆 𝐀𝐈𝐃
Cebu Gov. Pamela Baricuatro expressed joy and relief as Cebuanos finally began receiving the ₱10,000 housing assistance from the National Housing Authority (NHA) for victims of Supertyphoon Odette, four years after the disaster struck in December 2021.
Gov. Baricuatro made a brief appearance at the Barangay Poblacion gymnasium in Carcar City today, December 12, where the NHA, led by Regional Manager Hermes Jude Juntilo, distributed the assistance to qualified beneficiaries.
“Nalipay kog dako nga nakab-ot na nato kini kay kabalo ko sa kasakit, kahago, ug paglaum nga atong gidala sulod sa pila ka tuig since Odette,” the governor said.
Under the NHA’s Emergency Housing Assistance Program (EHAP), each qualified household whose home suffered severe or total damage will receive ₱10,000. Carcar City, whose 5,787 beneficiaries were the first to be validated and submitted to the NHA, became the first LGU in Cebu to receive the assistance.
The governor was welcomed by city officials, led by Mayor Patrick Barcenas and Vice Mayor Perkins de Dios, as well as regional officials of the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) and Office of Civil Defense (OCD).
To recall, the NHA had allocated ₱742 million in assistance for Odette victims, but the funds were returned to the National Treasury after the housing agency and the previous provincial administration clashed over how the distribution should be implemented.
Firmly believing that the affected Cebuanos deserve to receive what is rightfully theirs, despite the years that have passed, Gov. Baricuatro moved quickly to correct this.
In a letter dated last November 18, she formally requested NHA General Manager Joeben Tai to reallocate the ₱742 million previously withdrawn.
A few days later, Tai informed the governor that President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. had ordered the funds to be released this month.
‘DILI NI AMONG KWARTA’
“Dili man ni among kwarta, sa taxpayers man ni. Ang among trabaho sa executive branch is to make sure nga maabot ni ninyo ang tabang nga angay ninyong madawat gikan sa gobyerno,” Gov. Baricuatro said.
The release of the long-delayed aid marks a major breakthrough.
She thanked President Marcos Jr., who assured her during his November visit to the Capitol, following the impact of Typhoon Tino, that the funds would be restored to Cebu.
With aid now flowing to beneficiaries, the Capitol has marked a significant step forward in restoring dignity to thousands of Cebuano families devastated by the super typhoon. | CAPITOL PIO
Check this also: NHA Continues 10K Housing Aid Distribution to Odette Victims in Carcar City
