DSWD turns over 53 houses to Mt Province beneficiaries

By Mark Erik King D. Guanzon

BAUKO, Mountain  Province -- Fifty three  brand new houses were turned-over by the Department of Social Welfare and Development town government here to families of  Core Shelter Assistance Program (CSAP) in 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 beneficiaries’ association, expressed gratitude for their new  homes which are away from hazardous areas.

Gatulla said their former houses were earlier located in a sinking area as verigied by the Dept. Of Environment and Natual Resources.

               This reportedly made the DSWD entice them to relocate by providing the houses.

“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 Mt. Province,” Gov Bonifacio C. Lacwasan Jr. said in his speech.

DSWD regional director Janet Armas  said the core shelter program is one of the responses of the government  for people affexted by  disasters.

The Core Shelter Assistance Program involves construction of  environmentally friendly, structurally strong shelter units that can withstand typhoons, flooding and earthquakes using locally available construction materials.

                Recipients formed their group Mt. Data Eastwood Neighborhood for Shelter Assistance Association so they will make rules on maintenance of their shelter units.

During turnover, Armas urged 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 preparations within our families. Let us start training our children how to become resilient in times of disaster,” Armas added.