President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. on Monday led the distribution of various assistance, including shelter materials, to families affected by Severe Tropical Storm Kristine in Batangas.
The move is part of the government’s ongoing “conveyor belt of aid” for typhoon survivors.
Joining the President was Department of Human Settlements and Urban Development (DHSUD) Secretary Jose Rizalino Acuzar and other key officials involved in the extensive disaster response following the damage caused by typhoon.
“Kanina ay namahagi rin po tayo ng mga kagamitan para sa pagpapatayo ng bahay na galing sa donasyon ng Metrobank,” President Marcos said in his speech during the distribution of Presidential Assistance to Farmers, Fisherfolk, and Families (PAFF) in Talisay, Batangas.
“Sa puntong ito, nais kong pasalamatan ang pribadong sektor kasama na diyan ang Metrobank, mga kawani ng pamahalaan, mga volunteer, mga first responder na nag-alay ng kanilang kakayahan upang makatulong sa ating mga kababayan. Patuloy nating pagtibayin ang diwa ng bayanihan tungo sa isang Bagong Pilipinas na handa sa lahat ng pagsubok.”
The President led the turnover of 159 kits of housing materials from DHSUD to the municipality of Talisay. Simultaneously, 200 kits of housing materials were distributed in Agoncillo, and another 200 kits for Laurel.
This brings the total kits turned over to 559 valued at Php8.597 million.
Each family received home materials and essentials (HOMEs) packages composed of GI roofs, marine plywood, lumbers and nails for the repair of damaged homes. The items were provided by Metrobank Foundation Inc.
Acuzar said that upon receiving the report from DHSUD Regional Office on the severe damages to residential structures in Batangas province, it deployed teams to coordinate with local chief executives and gathered data on the number of affected and displaced families.
“This is DHSUD’s contribution to the President’s call for a conveyor belt of aid for typhoon victims. We will exhaust all available resources to extend assistance to our kababayans,” he said.
Acuzar instructed DHSUD Regional Office 4A to regularly monitor the situation to ensure that all families, particularly those with damaged houses, will be assisted.
Apart from HOMEs, the DHSUD also provides unconditional cash assistance to families whose houses are either damaged or destroyed during disasters.
Earlier this week, the housing agency released cash assistance to 60 Kristine-affected families from Daraga, Albay, under the Department’s Integrated Disaster Shelter Assistance Program (IDSAP).
Under IDSAP, DHSUD can provide unconditional cash assistance of P30,000 to families with totally damaged houses and P10,000 for those with partially damaged residences brought about by man-made or natural disasters.
On October 26, shelter agencies were instructed to implement a moratorium on housing amortization to their members affected by Kristine.
The Home Development Mutual Fund or Pag-IBIG Fund, the National Housing Authority (NHA), Social Housing Finance Corporation (SHFC) and the National Home Mortgage Finance Corp. (NHMFC) subsequently implemented a one-month moratorium to member-borrowers. | PND
