OCCIDENTAL MINDORO, Philippines – Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) Secretary Corazon Juliano-Soliman led recently the groundbreaking ceremony of the housing project for disaster victims in the town of Sablayan on this province to be constructed through the Department’s Core Shelter Assistance Project (CSAP).
The CSAP provides disaster victims with structurally strong shelter units that can withstand up to 220-kph wind velocity and intensity 4 earthquake. DSWD provided the P27-million budget for the houses to be built in Sitios Cigaras and Yapang. A total of 397 families from Barangay Ilvita whose houses were destroyed by Typhoon Jolina in 2009 will be transferred to the project sites. According to Mayor Eduardo Gadiano who also attended the activity, the barangay suffered from subsequent widespread flooding that ruined houses and livelihood.
This prompted him to develop a relocation plan for the families to ensure their safety. In her message during the groundbreaking, Sec. Soliman stressed that the convergence of efforts among stakeholders is vital in the success of any project.
“Hindi lang magsisilbing panibagong tirahan ang mga bahay na itatayo dito, kung di tatayo din itong modelo para sa iba pa nating kababayan dahil sa inyong pagpupursigi na mabuo ito (The houses that will rise here will not only serve as your new homes, these too can serve as model for others),” Sec. Soliman said referring to the commitment being shown by the local government unit and the beneficiaries themselves in pursuing the project. Mayor Gadiano thanked the Department for the housing project vowing that the beneficiaries will have safer and stronger houses before the typhoon season begins.
Also present during the ceremony were Congresswoman Josephine Sato and DSWD-Field Office IV-B Director Wilma Naviamos.
