DHSUD distributes tarpaulin sheets, relief aid to Odette victims

The Department of Human Settlements and Urban Development (DHSUD) has distributed tarpaulin sheets to serve as temporary shelters for homeless communities affected by Typhoon Odette in Visayas and Mindanao.

The DHSUD, in coordination with the United States Agency for International Development (USAID) and International Organization for Migration, handed over a total of 5,598 shelter-grade tarpaulin sheets to affected communities in Cebu, Bohol, Southern Leyte, and CARAGA region.

President Rodrigo Duterte earlier instructed the Department of Social Welfare and Development to procure trapal or tarpaulin sheets that will serve as temporary shelters of families displaced by typhoon Odette in parts of Visayas and Mindanao.

Duterte said the purchase of the materials should be done in 48 hours, if possible.

The DHSUD also provided P487.5 million financial assistance to typhoon-affected regions in 4B, 6, 7, 8, 10 and CARAGA, with recipient families set to receive P5,000 each. A total of 97,500 families will benefit from the cash assistance.

“We are hastening efforts to immediately assist families in typhoon-hit regions, especially those whose homes were damaged or destroyed by Odette,” DHSUD Secretary Eduardo Del Rosario said in a statement on Tuesday.

“We are also stepping up coordination with other government agencies to ensure faster delivery of relief and financial assistance to regions that were battered by the typhoon,” he added.

Del Rosario also personally inspected and assessed the damage extent, particularly on housing in Surigao City, Siargao, Cebu, and Dinagat Islands areas.

As of Monday, at least 506,404 residential structures were either damaged or destroyed by Odette, which composed of 339,327 houses partially damaged while 167,077 were totally destroyed by the storm in regions 4B, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, and BARMM.

The DHSUD also joined forces with the Philippine Coast Guard in distribution of 14,000 more shelter-grade tarpaulin sheets, 250 modular tents for evacuation centers, and 1,310 solar lamps in other typhoon-ravaged areas.

Meanwhile, the Pag-IBIG Fund, a key shelter agency of DHSUD, has also pledged P5 billion worth of calamity loans for typhoon victims.

Pag-IBIG said members may borrow up to 80% of their total Pag-IBIG Savings, with an interest rate of only 5.95%, which is the lowest in the market. It added that loans are payable for up to three years with a grace period of two months.—Richa Noriega/AOL, GMA News