By Darryl John Esguerra | Philippine News Agency
The Department of Human Settlements and Urban Development (DHSUD) has mobilized emergency shelter assistance for families affected by Severe Tropical Storm “Crising” (Wipha), which left 356 houses damaged in three regions.
As of Saturday noon, DHSUD regional offices reported 307 homes partially damaged and 49 totally destroyed, with the highest number of cases in Region VI (Western Visayas) at 183, followed by Region IX with 87 and the Negros Island Region with 65.
To aid the displaced families, DHSUD has requested 5,000 shelter-grade tarpaulins from the International Organization for Migration (IOM) for distribution in the hardest-hit areas, particularly Region VI and Negros Island.
“In compliance with the directive of President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr., we should start preparing the necessary post disaster assistance to affected families,” DHSUD Undersecretary for Disaster Response Henry Yap said, as quoted in a DHSUD news release Sunday.
“It is important that we remain proactive for the timely delivery of our assistance.”
DHSUD is also coordinating with local government units to implement the Integrated Disaster Shelter Assistance Program (IDSAP), which grants P30,000 to families whose homes were totally destroyed and P10,000 to those with partially damaged residences.
The IDSAP, launched under the Marcos administration, supplements local government aid and forms part of DHSUD’s mandate as lead of the national shelter cluster. Earlier, DHSUD also distributed housing materials and essential kits to storm-hit communities. (PNA)
