BAUKO, Mountain Province, Apr. 1 — Fifty three brand new housing units were blessed and turned over by the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) in partnership with the local government unit of Bauko to family beneficiaries of the Core Shelter Assistance Program (CSAP) at Mt. Data, here recently.
DSWD provided P8.48 million shelter assistance grant used to buy construction materials and supplies while the local government unit of Bauko provided technical support.
Nicanor Gatulla, president of the association of beneficiaries, expressed his happiness and gratitude for their new homes which are away from hazardous areas.
“Nagdakkel ti panagyaman mi ti DSWD ta haan lang nga balay ti inted da no diket pati talna ti panunot ta sinking area ti ayan ti balay mi idi. Gapu iti daytoy nga core shelter ket feeling safe kami,” said Gatulla said whose house before was located in a sinking area marked by the DENR.
“Indeed, poverty alleviation projects like this one is among the indications that we continue to bring the government closer to the people. Thank you, DSWD for supporting the people of Mtn. Province,” Governor Bonifacio C. Lacwasan Jr. said in his speech.
DSWD OIC-Regional Director Janet Armas emphasized that the core shelter program is one of the responses of the government as it recognizes that during disasters, many are lost including shelters and the program may help the victims to start anew.
The Core Shelter Assistance Program involves the provision of environmentally friendly, structurally strong shelter units that can withstand a range of hazards such as typhoons, floods and mild earthquakes using locally available construction materials.
The recipients formed themselves into the Mt. Data Eastwood Neighborhood for Shelter Assistance Association and are expected to make their own Implementing Rules and Regulations for the maintenance of their shelter units and other operational purposes.
Armas also advised the recipients to help each other as a community in preparation for disasters.
“There will be stronger typhoons as projected by PAGASA and we are often affected; let us start the preparation within our families. Let us start training our children on how to become resilient in times of disaster,” Armas added. **Mark Erik King D. Guanzon- DSWD-CAR
