DHSUD to grant assistance to homeowners affected by Typhoon Carina, Habagat

Homeowners whose houses were partially damaged during the Typhoon Carina-enhanced Southwest Monsoon (Habagat) will receive disaster assistance from the Department of Human Settlements and Urban Development (DHSUD).

In a public hearing, DHSUD Undersecretary Randy Escolango said Monday that Secretary Jose Rizalino Acuzar ordered the inclusion of partially damaged houses under the Integrated Disaster Shelter Assistance Program (IDSAP).

Initially, IDSAP provides a one-time emergency shelter support of P15,000 for households with “totally damaged houses”.

“Kaya isasama na rin namin iyon na icocover at may guidelines kami. Pag na aprobahan within the day, macocover yung mga tinamaan kabahayan ng ating mga kababayan,” Escolango said.

(That is why we are including it in the program coverage and we crafted the guidelines. If it is approved within the day, we will be able to cover those affected houses of our countrymen.)

DHSUD logged at least 15,049 partially damaged houses and 130 totally damaged houses.

Escolango said the figures may increase as DHSUD undertook an inspection and validation process and it excludes the number of damaged houses in Metro Manila.

To qualify, the beneficiary must be the head of the household and must register to their respective local government unit.

The beneficiaries must also ensure they are not a recipient of other shelter assistance from government agencies or non-governmental organizations.

Signed into effect on Feb. 6, 2024, the IDSAP has a budget of P200 million for the first year of its implementation.

Escolango said DHSUD has a remaining budget of P193 million under IDSAP.

He added the Pag-IBIG Fund allocated a P3 billion budget for calamity loans for its members affected by Carina-enhanced Habagat. —Mariel Celine Serquiña/RF, GMA Integrated News