‘Pablo’-affected families get new homes

DAVAO ORIENTAL, January 5, 2015 –Typhoon Pablo survivors in the three typhoon-ravaged towns of Boston, Cateel and Baganga will face the new year with a promise of new hope as they recently received permanent homes they can truly call their own.

Turned over by Provincial Government and the Department of Social Welfare and Development, the 2,418 families, who are the latest batch of permanent housing beneficiaries in the three towns, received the certificate of occupancy to their new homes last December 18, 2014. These families extended their gratitude both to the national and provincial government for realizing their dream of owning a home and a fresh start to their new lives.

“With these new homes, we can now focus more on our livelihood,” said one beneficiary, emphasizing this ‘gift’ would give them more confidence to dream more for their families.

Based on reports from the DSWD, over 13,000 beneficiaries in the three towns have, since the last two years, benefitted from the permanent shelter project implemented under the Modified Shelter Assistance Program initiated through the partnership of the DSWD and the Provincial Government.

Governor Corazon N. Malanyaon said she is very overwhelmed by the DSWD’s support to her province. “If there’s one agency who we should really thank for their support, then that would be the DSWD,” she says. “I personally have been a witness to their massive support to the province since day one until now in our rehabilitation phase." She also lauded the efforts of the department for standing ready especially when it comes to providing long-term shelters to the hapless typhoon victims, who can’t build houses on their own, given their lack of financial resources.

“These new homes symbolize security and hope as families start rebuilding their lives after typhoon Pablo ravaged their towns in 2012,” said the Governor, noting that ‘we cannot plan and focus in the long-term if we don’t have the security of a home’.

She also emphasized that the Government, through various interventions, is striving hard to attend the needs of the people and help them ‘Build Back Better’.

Meanwhile, a week after the permanent shelter turn over, a cash distribution followed in Caraga town, where most families have partially damaged homes. A total 841 families received Emergency Shelter Assistance (ESA) worth P10, 000 handed over last December 28 by the DSWD and the Provincial Government. This hand over of cash assistance completes the last phase of distribution of ESA to families with partially-damaged homes. PIO