Eighty-nine families from Tabuk City, Kalinga recently received their certificate of ownership of core shelter units from the Department of Social Welfare and Development and the city government of Tabuk.
Eighty-six of the families awarded with the core shelter units have been affected by Typhoon Lando in 2015.
“Building lang ang binigay namin, but it is up to you to make it a home. Hindi man naibigay lahat ng gobyerno ngunit sa efforts ng iba’t ibang ahensya at dahil sa inyo, nagkaroon ng development dito sa lugar n’yo”, DSWD OIC Assistant Regional Director for Administration Amelyn P. Cabrera representing Regional Director Arnel B. Garcia said.
She said the core shelters are manifestation of the spirit of bayanihan in the community.
In 2015, the DSWD-Cordillera provided P11,180,000 worth of core shelter assistance in support of the recovery and rehabilitation of the communities affected by Typhoon Lando.
The core shelter assistance is one of the programs provided by the DSWD as support to local government units and their communities which aim to relocate families residing in unsafe zones to more stable areas to mitigate hazards to life and poverty that may result from natural or man-made disaster.
From December 2021 to February, the DSWD-Cordillera turned over 384 core shelter units in Apayao, Benguet, Kalinga, and Mountain Province. Of which, 96 units were turned over in Natonin, Mountain Province; 85 units and 29 units in Flora and Pudtol in Apayao; 66 units in Bakun, Benguet; and 89 units in Tabuk City.
The DSWD allots P130,000 for each unit. The amount could be used for the construction of the basic portions of infrastructure. Beneficiaries are allowed to enhance the infrastructure given that they maintain the standards for the main unit.
“Our core shelters have been thoroughly designed and planned by professionals thus assuring the safety and comfort of our beneficiaries. But should we see upgrades, we would be glad to because this would mean that our beneficiaries have already embraced the ownership of these units”, Garcia said.
“Dati makigigiyan kami laeng, tatta ket mayat ti rikna min ta komportable kamin ti uneg ti balay mi, Myrna Bonilla, one of the recipients said.
The turn-over ceremony in Lanna, Tabuk City was also attended by Disaster Response Management Division OIC Chief Marifil C. Jugal and Kalinga Action Team Leader Macfarlyne Bumosao, representatives of the city government led by Mayor Darwin Estanero, provincial government headed by Gov. Ferdinand Tubban and members of the Neighborhood Association for Shelter Assistance in the area. – Nerizza Faye V. Trinidad
September 30, 2023
