By Priam Nepomuceno | Philippine News Agency
The government has started providing emergency shelter assistance to the victims of Typhoon Odette that swept through parts of the Visayas and Mindanao last December.
“Ang NHA (National Housing Authority) naman ay kasalukuyang nag-i-implement ng emergency shelter assistance, sila ay nakapag-download na sa mga local government units ng P487 million,” Undersecretary Ricardo Jalad, National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council (NDRRMC) executive director, said in his report to President Rodrigo Duterte during the Talk to the People briefing on Monday night.
Jalad said aside from the NHA, around P4.8 billion in funds from the Department of Budget and Management (DBM) for the same purpose have been downloaded to local government units (LGUs).
“At mayroong recommendation na ibibigay ang NDRRMC sa inyo, Mr. President, para sa karagdagang emergency shelter assistance,” Jalad said.
Meanwhile, Jalad said the government has so far transported 7.1 million kilograms of relief goods to areas severely affected by the typhoon.
Jalad also reported that the Department of Social Welfare and Development has so far distributed a total of 786,000 family food packs worth P440 million to Western Visayas, Central Visayas, Eastern Visayas and Caraga.
Jalad, who is also the administrator of the Office of Civil Defense (OCD), said post-disaster needs assessment (PDNA) for typhoon-affected areas is expected to be concluded by the end of January.
He added that the PDNA is now being conducted by 21 teams of 95 local government units who reported losses and damage due to “Odette”.
Jalad said that these will be submitted to the Regional Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Councils (RDRRMCs) who will then forward it to the NDRRMC by mid-February.
“Odette” has so far affected 2.3 million families or around 8 million individuals.
Around 406 people were reported dead, along with 65 missing and 1,265 injured with 339,478 individuals still residing and being helped in 1,146 evacuation centers.
Some 1.3 million houses were also damaged by the typhoon. (PNA)-rir
