SABLAYAN, Occidental Mindoro-   With the convergence efforts of different government agencies, families who were devastated from Typhoon Jolina in 2009 received their new housing units under the DSWD’s modified Core Shelter Assistance Program (CSAP) last July 31, 2015.

The Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) MiMaRoPa Assistant Regional Director for Operations, Floreceli Gunio and Sablayan Mayor Eduardo Gadiano led the turn-over of 58 housing units in Sitio Yapang, Barangay Batong-buhay and 339 units in Sitio Cigaras, Barangay Ilvita during the inauguration ceremony in the municipality.

Funding for the construction of the said houses was provided by the DSWD amounting to Php28 million pesos with Php12 million pesos counterpart from the local government unit with 600sqm lot granted to each family by the Department of Agrarian Reform (DAR). The core shelter units worth Php70,000 each.

Houses were built by beneficiaries’ own hands. “Ginagawa namin ang mga bahay namin, sumasahod pa kami dahil sa cash for work [program] ng DSWD,” said Ilvita Barangay Captain Noel Yasay.

Building of core shelters also serves as training ground for beneficiaries under the Technical Education and Skills Development Authority (TESDA) course of masonry and carpentry, on which whoever passed the assessment get National Certificate II affirming their skills competency. Furthermore, the Philippine Army has volunteered in the construction.

On the other hand, the Occidental Mindoro Electric Cooperative (OMECO) and National Electrification Administration (NEA) have allocated one-million peso-fund for the electrification of the two housing sites thru their Sitio Electrification Program. The Department of Interior and Local Government (DILG) also established the Sagana at Ligtas na Tubig Para sa Lahat (SALINTUBIG) project with a mission to provide safe and sufficient water for the beneficiaries.

“Dito nakita namin ang pagkakaisa ng mga ahensya ng gobyerno para mabuo ang isang komunidad,” said beneficiary Jovita Espinosa. “At itong pangrap namin na magandang bahay, na natupad na, ay aming aalagaan at lalo pang pagagandahin,” she continued.

The Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE) shared Php400,000 to beneficiaries in Ilvita for employment and livelihood program under the Tulong Panghanapbuhay sa Ating Disadvantaged Workers or TUPAD while seedlings are also given for farming by the Department of Agriculture (DA).

Meanwhile, the Department of Health (DOH) has released Php2, 500,000 for the construction of Barangay Health Stations.

CSAP provides disaster resistant shelter units to families displaced by natural calamities that are unable to restore damaged houses. This is also intended to other families who are at high risk and vulnerable areas that need to be relocated.

DSWD reminds recipients of core houses not to sell nor rent it out within 15 years.###