Bangladesh officials led by Member of Parliament, Minister Mohammad Rezaul Karim Hira recently visited the country for a study tour to see how the Core Shelter Assistance Program (CSAP) of the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) is being implemented in Barangay Maahas and Barangay Lalakay, Los Banos, Laguna.

The CSAP is a social welfare intervention that provides disaster victims with structurally strong shelter units that can withstand up to 220 kph wind velocity, and earthquake up to intensity 4 using locally purchased construction materials.

The core shelter units in the two barangays were built for 114 families who lost their houses to typhoons Milenyo and Reming in 2006, and Ondoy and Santi in 2009.

Those in Barangay Maahas are awaiting electric and water connections being facilitated by the local government. Currently, water supply for cleaning and washing  is through 11 units of deep well constructed in the area. Potable water  is supplied through the refilling station in the nearby barangay.

In Barangay Lalakay, on the other hand, the units already have water and electric supply.

To date, 184 core houses were constructed in Los Banos, Laguna with a total cost of P11.14 Million funded by the DSWD.

 

Seeing all the development in the area, Minister Hira admired the partnership of the DSWD and the Local Government Unit in ensuring that  victims recover  quickly from the impact of disaster. Similar to the Philippines, Bangladesh is also one of the countries in Asia that is prone to flooding, typhoon, and other related disasters.

“Under our CSAP, we supply the right materials, expertise, resources, and social preparation in a timely manner to help people and communities rebuild their lives.” DSWD Secretary Corazon Soliman said. ###