THERE is still hope for possible aid to Odette victims from the government through the National Housing Authority (NHA).
While the NHA has already turned over financial assistance to typhoon Odette victims in Bohol recently, the assistance was only for the typhoon victims whose houses were damaged during typhoon Odette, and would be for the victims from 27 towns of Bohol’s 47 towns and a city.
NHA-7 Bohol District manager Grace V. Solis said they have turned over the aid for the victims of 27 towns whose houses were either totally damaged or partially damaged, in simple ceremonies to the Provincial Government through Gov Arthur Yap.
The Provincial Government is supposed to manage and supervise the awarding of the financial assistance to the victims themselves.
Asked why there were only for the 27 towns, NHA said, when we asked the Local Government Units of the list of residents victims of the typhoon, not every town submitted a list.
Some others submitted late, but just the same, in the end there were only 27 towns with their lists that we submitted for financial assistance, district manager Solis said.
The NHA which is a member of the National Disaster and Risk Reduction Management Council’s Shelter Cluster, said the initial list caused the national government to allocate the P55 million for Bohol.
As to their rough estimates, about 15,002 houses in the first district were totally damaged when the storm lashed last December 16.
Another 57,268 houses in the Second District were not as lucky, when the eye of the storm passed over them.
In the third district, around 12,534 houses were also totally damaged as the typhoon which packed winds of over 265 kilometers per hour blew roofs and snapped power lines like match sticks.
NHA said they estimated some 84,808 houses in Bohol which were totally laid in ruins after the storm.
Of those that were partially damaged, NHA estimates some 213,832 houses.
Now what about the victims from other towns which did not make it to the submission of the list?
To that, the NHA said they, along with the NDRRMC Shelter Cluster has proposed to the Office of the President another allocation from the additional financial assistance to be given to Odette Victims in Bohol and other affected provinces.
If the proposal is approved and funded, owners of totally damaged houses will receive P30,000 and those of partially damaged houses can get P10,000.
We are awaiting for the approval of the said proposal, Solis said. (rahc/PIA-7/Bohol)
