DHSUD gives shelter aid to quake-hit areas

Based on the DHSUD’s initial assessment Thursday, 4,969 families or 20,091 individuals from the Ilocos and Cordillera regions were reported to have been affected by the July 27 earthquake. (File Photo: Department of Social Welfare and Development/Facebook)

MANILA – The Department of Human Settlements and Urban Development (DHSUD) on Friday said it has activated its local shelter cluster teams to provide assistance to families affected by the magnitude 7 earthquake that jolted Abra and other parts of Luzon.

DHSUD shelter cluster personnel in Ilocos, Cagayan, and Cordillera regions have been mobilized in compliance with President Ferdinand Marcos Jr.’s directive “to fast-track government assistance for the severely-hit residents.”

Assistant Secretary Melissa Aradanas, DHSUD-Officer-in-Charge, issued a department order mandating the regional offices to immediately identify the shelter needs of victims.

“Upon instruction of the National Risk Reduction Reduction and Management Council to activate its shelter cluster, we promptly alerted our concerned regional offices to put into motion the regional clusters so that we can monitor and facilitate emergency response and humanitarian assistance to those in need,” Aradanas told the reporters in a text message.

Based on the DHSUD’s initial assessment Thursday, 4,969 families or 20,091 individuals from the Ilocos and Cordillera regions were reported to have been affected by the July 27 earthquake.

A total of 2,312 families or 8,314 individuals are in 31 evacuation centers while 413 families are staying with relatives or friends in Ilocos Sur, La Union, Abra, and Mountain Province.

The damaged houses have reached 358 while nine were completely destroyed in the provinces of Ilocos Norte, La Union, Pangasinan, Abra, and in Mountain Province.

DHSUD coordinated with the International Organization for Migration for the provision of 3,000 shelter-grade tarpaulins for the evacuees.

“We are mobilizing our partners as well as all members of the shelter clusters to harmonize our efforts and facilitate faster response,” Aradanas said.

DHSUD assured constant monitoring on the extent of damage and support for the victims.