The Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) had a groundbreaking ceremony of the temporary shelters for affected families who lost their houses during the recent armed conflict with MNLF in Zamboanga City to be constructed in Barangay Taluksangay.

The temporary shelters will be built in a 1.4 hectare of land that can accommodate 22 temporary shelters for  220 families. The Habitat for Humanity will manage the construction of temporary shelter in Taluksangay

 DSWD Secretary Dinky Soliman and Zamboanga City Mayor Beng Climaco-Salazar led the groundbreaking.   Also present were DSWD Assistant Secretary  Camilo Gudmalin; DSWD Region IX Director Zeny Arevalo; Taluksangay, Barangay Chairman and City Councilor Abdurahman B. Nuño; Representative Lilia Nuño; and Habitat for Humanity representatives Fr. Al Javier and Engr. Toto Banare.

“The temporary shelters will hasten the transition  of the evacuees from relief to early recovery towards rehabilitation. This will also free the the schools from evacuees so children can go back to school and have some sense of normalcy, ”  Secretary Dinky said.

The temporary shelters are intended for evacuees whose houses have been totally destroyed during the conflict. The

temporary shelter shall be provided with cooking stall per family, latrines for male and female, bathing areas for male and female, common laundry area, concrete hallways and sufficient lighting.

Soliman said the DSWD is closely working with the Zamboanga City Government for the identification of other areas where to build the temporary shelters. Partner organizations such as the Habitat for Humanity, Gawad Kalinga and the Armed Forces of the Philippine Engineering Brigade shall help construct the temporary shelters.

 The DSWD and the City Government of Zamboanga  are also exploring appropriate shelter interventions for displaced Badjao families.   DSWD ensures that the evacuees will not be relocated in sites not appropriate to their way of life.###