Housing assistance continues to benefit Pablo-hit areas

Some 1,840 families in the three typhoon Pablo-hit areas in Davao Oriental became recipients of this year’s first distribution of permanent shelters held on February 3, 2015.
Implemented under the Modified Shelter Assistance Program (MSAP), the massive housing project is a joint venture between the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) which provides the funds and the provincial government which shoulders the acquisition of resettlement sites.
Based on the report from the MSAP Office on the recent ceremonial turn over of houses, Baganga town received 920 shelters, Cateel 770, and Boston town 150.
DSWD 11 assistant regional director for operations Rebecca A. Santamaria said she is optimistic that all remaining houses targeted for construction will be completed by the end of March.
To date, about 13,780 housing units have already been implemented on the ground, offering typhoon survivors opportunity for a fresh start.
During the recent turnover ceremony, Santamaria said the strong partnership forged between the DSWD and the provincial government caused the quick delivery assistance to the typhoon victims.
She added that partnership has always been at the core of what DSWD does, and the provincial government’s active role in this partnership has what made this joint venture a reality.
She also made positive remarks on the resiliency showed by the people of Davao Oriental amidst the hardships they have tackled in the wake of the disaster that shattered their homes and lives.
She said this resiliency coupled with the socio-economic developments here had made the province of Davao Oriental a model in development and became one of the country’s most benchmarked provinces when it comes to disaster response and rehabilitation.
For her part, Governor Corazon N. Malanyaon said the outpouring of support from the local and international community has made her province grow stronger and resilient, knowing that despite the mounting challenges, “there are still people with generous and kind hearts that will help meet the urgent needs and help the province build resilience.”
“Without partnerships and convergence, this evident development on three hard-hit towns would be impossible,” Malanyaon said. PIO

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