TACLOBAN CITY-Marive Repulda, 43, looks at the third anniversary commemoration of supertyphoon “Yolanda” on Nov. 8 with anxiety.
After all, the promised financial assistance to government workers like her has yet to be fulfilled by the government.
Still, Repulda, a school teacher at the Palo National High School in Palo, Leyte whose house was totally damaged due to Yolanda, hopes that the remaining amount of the promised financial assistance will be released this time under the administration of Pres. Rodrigo Duterte.
“I have high hopes that the full amount of our housing aid will be released this time. It would be too much already if it won’t happen,” she said.
Public school teachers living in Yolanda-hit areas were promised of housing aid based on a memorandum on January 4, 2014 during the administration of former Pres. Benigno “Noynoy” Aquino.
The memorandum refers to the proposed provision of financial assistance from the Presidential Social Fund to government employees who were affected by Yolanda.
Those whose houses were totally or heavily damaged were supposed to receive P100,000 and those whose houses were partially damaged were to receive P30,000.
According to Repulda, instead of receiving the entire promised amount of P100,000, she only received half of the amount October of last year.
“It is very frustrating. We were only given half of the amount due to us sometime in October 2015. And we were made to liquidate in full. We’ve waited for over a year already for our second release,” said Repulda, adding that until now her house is not yet fully rehabilitated while she continues to wait for the promised fund.
Education Undersecretary Jesus Lorenzo Mateo, in October, said that the release of said funds is on process.
“We have decided to make a concerted and collective action through this petition letter to demand for answers as to the status of the said financial assistance, and if possible, it be given to us the soonest possible time,” said MerInisa Ogario, the new regional coordinator of Alliance of Concerned Teachers (ACT-Eastern Visayas).
Along with Confederation for Unity, Recognition and Advancement of Government Employees-Eastern Visayas (COURAGE-EV), they launched a signature campaign over the issue.
Ogario said the petition will be given during the possible visit of Pres. Rodrigo Duterte in Tacloban City on Nov. 8, the Yolanda third anniversary, through DSWD Sec. Judy Taguiwalo. (RONALD O. REYES)
