DSWD assures continuous recovery, rehab efforts for ‘Yolanda’-hit areas

DSWD Sec. Corazon ‘Dinky’ Soliman (DSWD Field Office VIII photo archive)

MANILA – The Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) assured on Friday that its recovery and rehabilitation efforts are in full swing in all typhoon “Yolanda”-affected areas as the country commemorates the second year of the catastrophe on Sunday.

DSWD Secretary Corazon J. Soliman said the agency has been focused on the recovery efforts for “Yolanda” victims while dealing with the impact of several other disasters which ravaged the country.

For instance, Soliman noted the repair and rehabilitation of damaged structures, and the construction of new ones through the use the Community–Driven Development (CDD) approach of the Kapit-Bisig Laban sa Kahirapan Comprehensive and Integrated Delivery of Social Services (Kalahi-CIDSS).

Using the CDD approach, survivors have been encouraged to participate in the rebuilding and construction of sub-projects which are essential to speed up their recovery as they participate in the identification of the projects, procurement of materials and in ensuring the resiliency of the projects which will be beneficial to them.

According to Soliman, out of the funded 13,876 sub-projects, 2,887 have been completed to date.

The completed projects were mostly roads, flood/river control, community center and multi-purpose halls; footpaths, foot and access trails; electrification and lighting; school buildings, water systems, day care centers, health stations and bridges.

Meanwhile, as of Oct. 14, DSWD, in partnership with non-government organizations (NGOs), such as Operation Blessing, Catholic Relief Services, Operations Compassion and Oxfam have constructed at least 2,315 transitional shelters in Leyte, Eastern Samar, and Western Samar.

A total of 1,576 families or 7,302 individuals are staying in these transitional shelters.

It maybe recalled that after Yolanda’s devastation, the families had stayed first in tents as temporary shelter.

On the other hand, the National Housing Authority (NHA), which is tasked for the construction of permanent houses for “Yolanda” victims, has completed 17,641 units while another 41,566 units are still under construction.

Altogether, 929 units were turned over to the town of Tanauan and Tacloban City, Leyte.

A total of 92,544 housing units are targeted to be completed until December 2016.

About 1,500 families who were already relocated to permanent housing sites in Ridgeview Park, Villa Sofia and Villa Diana will have their own source of potable water through a water supply support system.

Ten water tanks were installed in Ridgeview Park, two in Villa Sofia and three in Villa Diana. Each water tank has a capacity of 5,000 liters.

The water supply support system, which includes on-site water source development, water filtration and rain harvesting, was made possible through the donation of the Nigerian Government amounting to USD300,000 (PHP14 million).

The International Organization for Migration (IOM) also assisted in the completion of the said project.

Support programs like distribution of books and learning materials were also conducted in partnership with the local government units (LGUs), U​nited N​ations ​agencies, local and international non-government organizations, civil society organizations, and private donors for communities in resettlement sites.