DHSUD, housing agencies distribute relief packs to flood evacuees

The Department of Human Settlements and Urban Development (DHSUD), along with its key shelter agencies (KSAs), on Tuesday delivered household necessities to Metro Manila residents displaced by Typhoon “Carina”, according to a report by Philippine News Agency.

Upon the instruction of DHSUD Secretary Jose Rizalino Acuzar, DHSUD Undersecretaries Avelino Tolentino III and Randy Escolango, and Pag-IBIG Fund Chief Executive Officer Marilene Acosta led the relief operation along with other key officials from the DHSUD and KSAs in Parola Compound in Manila, and in Bagong Silangan, Quezon City.

The DHSUD and Pag-IBIG Fund staff members first visited Barangay 20 in Parola morning of Tuesday and distributed relief packs to displaced families from Isla Puting Bato.

In the afternoon, the DHSUD and Pag-IBIG Fund teams proceeded to Barangay Bagong Silangan, Quezon City to deliver more relief packs to evacuees staying at Greenland Covered Court.

The Pag-IBIG Fund provided the relief packs that contained a sleeping mat, flashlight, 3 blankets, 5 plastic plates, 5 plastic drinking glass, a cooking pot and a pan, while DHSUD, thru its NCR-Regional Office, facilitated the relief operation.

“This is our simple way of easing the burden of our kababayans. Asahan nyo po na tuluy-tuloy ang DHSUD at ang aming KSAs sa paghahanap ng paraan upang matulungan ang mga pamilyang apektado ng nakaraang bagyo,” Secretary Acuzar said.

“Ang bilin ng Pangulong Bongbong Marcos Jr. ay ibigay ang lahat ng tulong sa mga napinsala, ‘yan po ang ating gagawin sa mga susunod pang mga araw,” he added.

For its part, the Social Housing Finance Corporation, another KSA, also allocated relief packs for distribution to homeowners associations within its typhoon-affected project sites.

The National Home Mortgage Finance Corporation, meanwhile, has also readied hygiene kits for typhoon-affected families in Metro Manila.

Currently, DHSUD Regional Offices in the affected areas are closely coordinating with local government units (LGUs) for processing of cash assistance under the Department’s Integrated Disaster Shelter Assistance Program for those whose houses were totally damaged by “Carina.”

Last Friday, Secretary Acuzar ordered the KSAs to grant one month moratorium on monthly amortizations of their typhoon-affected clients. The move would benefit thousands of member-beneficiaries of the KSAs.

Pag-IBIG Fund has also deployed its Lingkod Pag-IBIG on-wheels to bring its services closer and convenient to members in areas affected by the typhoon. It has also allocated P3 billion in calamity loan.