By Jeanevive D. Abangan

TAGUM CITY, Jan. 26 (PIA) -- The Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) will grant shelter assistance only for units built in certified hazard-free zones.

In a presentation during the Partners Forum and Consultation last Thursday (Jan. 24), DSWD said it will require from borrowers, clearance from the Mines and Geo-sciences Bureau (MGB) to make sure that any housing units or even a temporary shelter is built in safe areas.

“Dapat dili na sila mobalik sa area nga gibahaan, ug dili sa no build zone,” (They should not return to flooded areas and those defined as no-build zone) DSWD 11 Assistant Regional Director for Operation Mavil Vigil said during the forum.

She said this guideline holds true even in granting emergency shelter assistance for repairs of houses located in identified no build zone.

This year, DSWD said the budget for core shelter assistance is P4.705 billion; P2.066 billion of which is allotted for Davao Oriental; P2.621 billion for Compostela Valley; P10.2 million for Davao del Norte; and P7.8 million for Davao del Sur.

For emergency shelter, DSWD has a budget of P650.6 million; P461.4 million will go to Compostela Valley; P158.8 million for Davao Oriental; P28.6 million for Davao del Norte, and P1.8 million for Davao del Sur.

In this year’s relief, recovery and rehabilitation plan, core shelter assistance accounts 45 percent of the P10.520 billion budget estimates that cover continuing relief assistance, emergency shelter assistance, cash for work, livelihood assistance and core shelter assistance.

Meanwhile, DSWD targets to build this year a total of 47,048 core shelter units; 20,663 units of which will be in Davao Oriental; 26,205 in Compostela Valley; 102 in Davao del Norte and; 78 in Davao del Sur.

For emergency shelter assistance, DSWD targets to extend it to 65,058 families; 46,138 of whom are in Compostela Valley; 15,876 in Davao Oriental; 2,862 in Davao del Norte; and 182 in Davao del Sur. (PIA XI/ JDA-PIA 11)