HUMAN Settlements and Urban Development (DHSUD) Secretary Jose Rizalino Acuzar on Tuesday ordered the release of cash assistance for families who lost their homes following the havoc of Typhoon “Egay.”
In an emergency meeting, Secretary Acuzar 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,” Secretary Acuzar said.
“Kailangan pro-active lagi tayo sa pagtulong sa ating mga kababayan na naapektuhan ng bagyo…dapat maramdaman agad ang tulong at malasakit ng gobyerno,” the DHSUD chief added.
As of 6 p.m. Tuesday, a total of 1,954 residential structures had been totally damaged by the typhoon, mostly from Regions 1, 2 and Cordillera Administrative Region.
Secretary 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 alloting P50 million from its emergency housing assistance program.
President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. on Sunday announced that the government will be providing the necessary assistance to typhoon victims.
On the other hand, Pag-IBIG Fund has started offering calamity loan 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,” the DHSUD chief added.
So far, DHSUD, in collaboration with the International Organization for Migration and the USAID, has already distributed 1,086 shelter-grade tarpaulins, and 600 solar lamps
