DSWD, LGUs plan disaster-resistant homes for 'Pablo' victims

The Department of Social Welfare and Development will work with local government units to provide victims of Typhoon Pablo (Bopha) - which hit Mindanao in 2012 - with sturdy, disaster-resistant homes as a permanent shelter from cyclone.

Pablo devastated Compostela Valley and Davao Oriental, leaving behind 1,067 dead and P36.949 billion in damage.
 

“We have invited the two governors, the mayors, the local social workers and engineers of hardest-hit towns as well as the provincial/municipal focal persons on shelter and food assistance for us to review our coordinated response in the past eight months and be able to determine the next steps in recovery and rehabilitation,” DSWD Secretary Corazon Soliman said.

 

During the planning workshop, the DSWD, concerned LGUs, and Habitat for Humanity presented their proposed housing designs, costs, and implementation schemes.

 

“If we have the funds and materials, and a comprehensive and doable plan for shelter construction, we can build the houses fast,” said Compostela Valley Gov. Arturo Uy.

 

He said their goal is to build 6,380 permanent shelters in his province by December 2013, and 7,464 more in 2014.

 

Davao Oriental Gov. Corazon Malanyaon said they "cannot start talking about other things with the affected families unless we provide homes first."

 

"Talking about other matters will not make sense to them. Hence, I need to finish my commitment this year. I admit that the work DSWD is doing is excellent. I salute them,” she said.

 

Davao Oriental aims to finish 7,586 permanent shelters within 2013, and 12,229 in 2014.

 

DSWD Assistant Secretary Camilo Gudmalin stressed the need to undertake social preparation activities like family validation, site validation, source of building materials and target units per municipality.

 

He also assured LGUs shelter funding will immediately be released.

 

“We commit to support the LGUs and will continue our close coordination with them. We can celebrate on December 4 as we rise from the rubbles of typhoon Pablo,” he said.

 

DSWD commitment

 

The DSWD said it committed 33,659 permanent shelter units to be constructed on site at P70,000 each.

 

For its part, the National Housing Authority committed 17,480 shelter units to be constructed off site or in resettlement sites.

 

Internally displaced families or disaster victims in the two provinces may avail of the Cash For Work at P226 per day while building the shelters.  — ELR, GMA News