DSWD to prioritize housing units for 'Sendong' victims

MANILA, Philippines - The Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) yesterday said they would prioritize families with children, pregnant women or with those with sick members in the housing program for victims of tropical storm “Sendong.”

In a statement, Social Welfare Secretary Corazon Soliman said that priority would be given to families with small children, pregnant and lactating mothers; surrogate parents of orphaned children living in evacuation centers and damaged houses; families whose houses were damaged and whose heads of household died or were incapacitated as a result of the disaster, and families with members who are seriously ill or with special needs.

Under the program, the beneficiaries will be provided with structurally strong shelters constructed in the relocation site. These houses can withstand wind with a velocity of up to 220 kilometers per hour and an intensity four earthquake.

Social workers from the local governments validated the beneficiaries for the core shelter program.                              

In Cagayan de Oro, eight temporary relocation sites for typhoon victims have been set up. These are located in Calaanan, Lumbia, Agusan Elementary School, Mandumol basketball court, Buena Oro covered court, Camaman-an Covered Court, Fatima Parish Hall and Mt. Carmel Church.

Two permanent relocation sites were also set up in 9.5 hectares of land in Calaanan and five hectares in Lumbia.

In Iligan City, three permanent relocation sites were identified. These are in eight hectares of the property of the National Steel Corporation, three hectares in Sta. Filomena, 14.4 hectares in Sta. Elena.

A temporary relocation site was put up in the Integrated Bus Terminal in Barangay Tambo.

Soliman said bunkhouses are also being constructed in Lumbia, Cagayan de Oro to accommodate 350 families.

The DSWD would construct bunkhouses for 120 families, while the International Organization Mission (IOM) would build bunkhouses for 230 families.

There are now 80 tents erected in Barangay Tambo, Iligan City; 70 more tents would be set up soon.

Evacuees would be allowed to return to their respective localities provided that their areas are not identified as a danger zone.

The number of damaged houses in Cagayan de Oro reached 18,436 (5,801 totally damaged and 12,635 partially damaged). In Iligan City, the number of damaged houses reached 20,105 (5,237 totally damaged and 14,868 partially damaged).