DHSUD to distribute P10-M construction materials in typhoon-hit Masbate

By Ana-Liza S. Macatangay

LEGAZPI CITY --- Department of Human Settlements and Urban Development (DHSUD) Regional Director Maria Amoroso announced Thursday (October 16) that the agency will distribute P10 million worth of construction materials to families affected by Typhoon Opong in Masbate.

Amoroso said that DHSUD Bicol has already coordinated with the Masbate provincial government and the Provincial Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Office for the delivery of the construction materials, which is scheduled for this week.

Due to limited resources, DHSUD will prioritize households that are in most need of these construction materials, she said.

“We will give priority to the municipality that was most affected in Masbate, based on local government assessments, as the P10 million worth of materials will not be enough for the approximately 93,000 damaged homes in Masbate,” Amoroso said during the Kapihan sa PIA Bicol at the DHSUD regional office in Legazpi City.

Before this assistance, the Department of Human Settlements and Urban Development (DHSUD) Bicol, in partnership with the International Organization for Migration (IOM)-UN Migration, distributed shelter-grade tarpaulins and solar lamps in Masbate after the onslaught of Opong.

Meanwhile, the validation process for emergency shelter assistance in Masbate is still underway.

Amoroso noted that DHSUD Bicol has initially validated over 100 damaged homes in Milagros, Masbate. However, the validation of nearly 100,000 damaged houses throughout the entire province of Masbate will take several months.

She mentioned that they aim to partner with key shelter agencies to expedite the validation process.

Households eligible for emergency shelter assistance from DHSUD through the Integrated Disaster Shelter Assistance Program (IDSAP) will receive P30,000 if their houses are classified as “totally damaged,” and P10,000 if their homes are deemed “partially damaged.” (Nicole Frilles contributed to this story/ PIA Bicol)