By Brian Campued
Consistent with the directive of President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. to provide safer and more comfortable refuge for the residents displaced by the 6.9-magnitude earthquake in northern Cebu, the Department of Human Settlements and Urban Development (DHSUD) is eyeing the completion of a second “Bayanihan Village” in one of the hardest hit towns in the province.
In a press release Saturday, DHSUD Sec. Jose Ramon Aliling said that installation of MSUs had already begun in Barangay Pajo, Daanbantayan even before the first Bayanihan Village in San Remigio was finished.
“Pinapabilis na natin ang pagtatayo dahil yan po ang utos ng Pangulong Marcos Jr.—mabilis na aksiyon, agarang tulong para sa ating mga kababayan,” the DHSUD chief said.
“Sa mga susunod na linggo ay magkakaroon na rin po ng mas ligtas at matibay na masisilungan ang mga biktima ng lindol sa bayan ng Daanbantayan,” he added.
The President visited San Remigio and Bogo City in Cebu on Friday to ensure that the immediate needs of affected families, whether residing in modular houses or in tents, were continuously being provided by the government.
At least 20 of the 45 MSUs set up in San Remigio were now occupied by displaced families whose homes had been completely destroyed or were designated as no-build zones following the earthquake.
The MSUs were built through the concerted efforts of government agencies and the private sector.
Meanwhile, family tents are also set up in other affected areas in Cebu managed by the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD), providing hot meals, mobile shower, wash facility, family food packs (FFPs), non-food items (NFIs), and safe refuge for Cebuano evacuees.
“It’s part of our job, all of us in government, to ensure that victims of natural calamities are taken cared of. Hindi ito yung tipong pagsilip mo ng isang beses, ‘yon na ‘yon,” DSWD Sec. Rex Gatchalian said.
“That’s our mandate—to make sure na una, safe at komportable kahit papaano ang ating mga biktima; and more than that, is maka-recover sa mabilis na panahon,” he added.
-jpv
