DHSUD’s Sec Acuzar orders fast release of cash to 'Egay' victims

By Aldwin Quitasol

BAGUIO CITY — The Dept. of Human Settlements and Urban Development (DHSUD) is set to release of cash assistance for families whose homes were destroyed following the havoc of Typhoon "Egay” in the areas of North Luzon.
    DHSUD Sec. Jose Rizalino Acuzar ordered the “immediate release.”
    As of 6 p.m. Tuesday, the DHSUD recorded a total of 1,954 residential structures totally damaged by the typhoon, mostly from Regions 1, 2 and Cordillera Administrative Region.
    Acuzar in an emergency meeting directed Undersecretary Avelino Tolentino III and Undersecretary Randy Escolango to start downloading the fund to Regional Offices affected by the typhoon.
    The DHSUD Central Office is making available P23 million for the emergency assistance to residents whose houses were totally damaged.
    "We must focus our efforts now in assisting families who lost their homes. Let's expedite the delivery dahil kailangan na ito agad," Acuzar was quoted as saying.
    "Kailangan proactive lagi tayo sa pagtulong sa ating mga kababayan na naapektuhan ng bagyo...dapat maramdaman agad ang tulong at malasakit ng gobyerno," the DHSUD chief accordingly added.
    Acuzar also instructed DHSUD attached agencies, particularly the National Housing Authority (NHA) and the Home         Development Mutual Fund or Pag-IBIG Fund to start providing assistance.
Initially, the National Housing Authority (NHA) is also allotting P50 million from its emergency housing assistance program.
    President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. on July 30 announced government will provide assistance to typhoon victims. 
    On the other hand, Pag-IBIG Fund has started offering calamity loans with lower interest rate per annum to "Egay" victims.
    "We will be working closely with local government units in the affected areas to ensure the timely and transparent delivery of our assistance," Acuzar noted. 
    The DHSUD which has already distributed 1,086 shelter-grade tarpaulins, and 600 solar lamps, has collaborated with the International Organization for Migration and the USAID for these efforts.