By Brian Campued
More than 100 families affected by Typhoon Tino have taken safe refuge at the Bayanihan Village in San Remigio, Cebu, according to the Department of Human Settlements and Urban Development (DHSUD).
In a news release Wednesday, DHSUD Sec. Jose Ramon Aliling said the modular housing units
(MHUs) in Barangay Poblacion—which were built as homes for earthquake-displaced families—were used as temporary shelters for families preemptively evacuated due to the threat of the tropical cyclone.
“Alinsunod sa direktiba ni Pangulong Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr., patuloy ang DHSUD sa pagtatayo ng mga Bayanihan Villages sa mga lugar na tinamaan ng kalamidad para sa kaligtasan ng ating mga kababayan,” Aliling said.
“Hangad po ng Pangulo ang mas ligtas and komportableng masisilungan para sa mga bitikma ng kalamidad, kaya naman patuloy ang DHSUD sa pag-agapay sa ating mga kababayan,” the DHSUD chief added.
Marcos Jr. previously ordered the installation of sturdier modular homes for the families who were rendered homeless by recent powerful earthquakes in Cebu and Davao.
Meanwhile, the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) said internally displaced persons (IDPs) residing in San Remigio tent city were temporarily transferred to MHUs or allowed to stay with their relatives as the family tents would not be able to withstand the strong winds brought by Typhoon Tino.
About 200 tents used for storage of various relief goods at the tent city and Bayanihan Village were likewise dismantled, according to DSWD.
As of 6:00 a.m. on Thursday, at least 195,152 boxes of family food packs and 1,961 ready-to-eat food (RTEF) boxes have been distributed to provinces affected by Tino.
The DSWD said the relief aid was part of the augmentation request of local government units in the National Capital Region, CALABARZON, Bicol, Western Visayas, Negros Island Region, Central Visayas, Eastern Visayas, Zamboanga Peninsula, and Caraga.
DSWD spokesperson ASec. Irene Dumlao said that they are also preparing to roll out emergency cash aid in coordination with LGUs to support the early recovery of affected families.
“Ito pong emergency cash transfer, maaari pong gamitin ng ating mga kababayan to purchase additional food items that are not present in the food boxes. It may also be used to buy materials for the repair of their damaged houses or maaari rin naman pong gamitin sa iba pang mga needs,” Sec. Dumlao said in an interview.
-jpv
