Bontoc, Mountain Province –The Department of Social Welfare and Development – Cordillera Administrative Region (DSWD-CAR) through the Disaster Response and Management Division (DRMD) in partnership with the Bontoc Local Government Unit (LGU) through the Municipal Social Welfare and Development Office (MSWDO) turned over 20 core shelters in Barangay Caneo on January 31, 2024.
According to the 2013 assessment of the Mining and Geosciences Bureau (MGB) of the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR), tension cracks were discovered on the mountain above the residential areas at Sitio Fabfey, Can-eo, thus posing risks to 79 families.
It can be recalled that prior to the turnover of the 59 core shelters in 2022, the Bontoc LGU provided toilet bowls for the construction of the comfort rooms, donated eco-bricks amounting to 250,000.00 purchased from the Senior Citizens of Bontoc who came–up with a Sustainable Livelihood Project in 2015, and allocated an additional fund amounting to 240,000.00 for the completion of the said core shelters.
Further, a total of 5,530,000.00 was turned over to the Can-eo Neighborhood Association for Shelter Assistance (NASA) in 2014 by the DSWD.
Meanwhile, OIC Division Chief Marifil Jugal of the DSWD-CAR DRMD who represented Regional Director Concurrent OIC-Regional Director (RD) and Assistant RD for Operations Enrique H. Gascon Jr., remarked that the success of the core shelter project reflects the spirit of Og-ogfo in our community.
In his message, Bontoc Mayor Jerome “Chagsen” Tudlong, Jr., extended his utmost gratitude to the DSWD-CAR for their continued support to the municipality, adding that the completion of the said project is a testament to the positive impact we can achieve when the government and the community join forces.
“Ensuring that our fellow community members now have secure and sustainable homes is a priority for us. I am confident that these core shelters will not only provide physical protection but will also serve as a symbol of hope and resilience for the families who now call them home,” he said in an interview.
The Core Shelter Assistance Program (CSAP) of the DSWD aims to provide disaster-affected families with environment-friendly and structurally strong housing units.** Christy Mae Che-es – Pangesfan
