About 1,840 families in the three Typhoon Pablo-hit areas in Davao Oriental received permanent housing units during the turnover ceremony on February 3.

Implemented under the Modified Shelter Assistance Program (MSAP), the housing project is a joint venture between the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) which bankrolls the funds, and the provincial government which shoulders the acquisition of resettlement sites.

The town of Baganga received 920 shelter units; Cateel, 770; and Boston, 150.

To date, about 13,780 houses  have been constructed in the province, offering disaster-resistant homes to typhoon survivors. The DSWD is targeting to build  21,382 for Pablo victims in Davao Oriental.

DSWD Secretary Corazon Juliano-Soliman explained that the strong partnership forged between the Department and the provincial government facilitated the  provision of assistance to the survivors.

“The provincial government’s active role in this partnership has made this joint venture a reality,” Sec. Soliman added.

Meanwhile, DSWD-Field Office XI Assistant Regional Director for Operations Rebecca Santamaria commended the resiliency shown by the people of Davao Oriental amid the hardships they have gone through in the wake of the disaster that shattered their homes and lives.

She said that people’s resiliency, coupled with the rising socio-economic activities, made the province a model in development and became one of the country’s most benchmarked provinces when it comes to disaster response and rehabilitation.

According to Governor Corazon N. Malanyaon, the downpour of support from the local and international community has made her province grow stronger and more resilient, that despite the mounting challenges, there are still people with kind and generous hearts who continue to help meet the urgent needs of ‘Pablo’ survivors. ###