P10M more for typhoon shelters

By: 10 years ago

Social Welfare Secretary Corazon Soliman FILE PHOTO

MANILA, Philippines—The Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) has set aside P10 million for the construction of an evacuation center and regional facility that will serve as a temporary shelter for disaster victims in the future.

The allocation is on top of the P68.9 million the agency earmarked for the construction of 113 bunkhouses for survivors of Supertyphoon “Yolanda,” which hit Eastern Visayas in November 2013.

In a statement, Social Welfare Secretary Corazon Soliman said the DSWD has delivered P1.2 billion worth of relief goods and services as well as rehabilitation projects to typhoon victims in Tacloban City.

“There are recovery and rehabilitation programs and services implemented in all towns devastated by the typhoon,” said Soliman.

The agency has released P3 million for the livelihood projects of 17 self-employment associations while P103,212 has been set aside for the long-term livelihood of other survivors.

Around P23.86 million has been allocated for the livelihood skills training of typhoon victims, which include 600 beneficiaries of the Pantawid Pamilyang Pilipino Program.

Earlier, the DSWD released P35.8 million for the implementation of the “cash for building livelihood assets” for some 9,395 families.

Soliman said the agency has spent more than P575 million in food assistance for 58,823 families, including rice packs, bottled water, canned goods, high-energy biscuits, noodles and coffee.

The DSWD also distributed nonfood items like tents, tarps, mosquito nets, blankets, hygiene kits, mats, used clothing, plastic cups, collapsible containers, plastic pails, slippers, frying pans, cooking pots, canvass, towels, flashlights and water jugs.