OPARR investigates Yolanda shelter aid ‘irregularities’ in Aklan

BY BOY RYAN B. ZABAL

The Office on Presidential Assistant for Rehabilitation and Recovery (OPARR) in Aklan calls for an investigation for what it called ‘irregularities’ in the distribution of Emergency Shelter Assistance (ESA).

 

Atty. Benny Salazar, legal consultant of OPARR-Aklan, has advised the public to file their complaints with OPARR regarding problems encountered on shelter aid distribution in the barangays. 

Salazar also urged the National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) to conduct parallel investigation to ensure that the right beneficiaries will receive the Typhoon Yolanda shelter assistance.

A number of Typhoon Yolanda survivors in the towns of Batan and New Washington are complaining of selective distribution of ESA intended for the repair of their damaged houses.

Reports also reached OPARR that some barangay captains, kagawads and their immediate family members, but have immediate resources to rebuild their damaged houses, were recipients of the shelter aid of DSWD. 

Many senior citizens and persons with disabilities, who are typhoon survivors, also complained in local radio stations that they were excluded in the list of ESA beneficiaries. 

“Dapat masayran naton ra ru beneficiaries ay tama nga makabaton it P30,000 or P10,000 nga bulig it gobyerno. Ma pinpoint man naton kun sin-o nga mga personales ru kahimu it kalokohan para ru ESA hay indi maadto sa tama nga beneficiaries. May mga tawo nga involved nga imbes makabulig hay naka-kita pa paagi sa dayang ESA,” Salazar in an interview by RMN DyKR Straight to the Point program.

Each family-survivor whose house was totally damaged by the typhoon received P30,000 while partially damaged houses got P10,000 from the national government. 

The funds are turned over by Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) to the local government for ESA implementation for typhoon survivors.

In Batan, investigators of OPARR started to investigate this week to determine the involvement of MSWD officers in ESA distribution alleged irregularities.

“Sa Batan mismo, basi sa personal experience, involved mismo ru MSWD officer, ngani sanda mismo hay dapat imbestigahan. May OPARR investigators idto nga umpisa eon nga katan-aw sa mga anomalya ngara.  Dapat mag-entra man gid ro NBI para maimbestigahan ro mga implementing officials involved sa dayang pag-lista it mga beneficiaries,” said Salazar, a native of Batan, Aklan.

Salazar said the shelter aid is being used for political or personal purposes in the barangays at the expense of Typhoon Yolanda survivors.