Rehab, recovery programs continue for quake victims
THE OFFICE of the Civil Defense is focusing on its “comprehensive rehabilitation and recovery program,” following the recent earthquakes in Davao del Sur.
“Daghan ug mga nangaguba na mga balay, eskwelahan ug mga establisyemento sa mga municipalities sa Davao del Sur, ug mao kana among pagasugdan napud ang pagtabang sa ilaha pinaagi sa amoang programa (There are plenty of houses, schools and establishments that were destroyed in the municipalities in Davao del Sur, and that’s the reason why we will begin to help them through our program),” OCD XI spokesperson Franz Irag said in a phone interview with Mindanao Times.
He said there will be relocation sites for the affected residents in the municipalities of Magsaysay, Hagonoy and Matanao.
“We are targeting 58 families from Malawanit in Magsaysay to be relocated
to the designated relocation site, hopefully within six months. The National Housing Authority (NHA) will be the agency that is tasked to focus on this program,” he said.
Some schools are fully and partially damaged due to the recent frequent earthquakes, Irag said. “Together with the Department of Education, we will establish ‘temporary learning spaces’ in schools wherein teachers temporarily conduct lessons to the students,” he said.
The Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) will also offer “cash-for-work” to the affected residents. “It is an intervention to the distressed/displaced individuals by providing them temporary employment and giving cash that will meet their daily necessities in exchange for their rendered work,” he said.
He added that there will be a series of community forums on Jan. 23-28, 2020.
“The forum aims to encourage the quake-hit affected families to go back in their houses-if their house is not fully or partially damagedbecause we are also securing their ‘security and health.’ This will also be the means for us to inform them about our comprehensive rehabilitation and recovery program,” he said.
There is still an ongoing “minimal” relief operations to quake-hit areas in some municipalities in Davao del Sur by the local government units (LGUs). On Jan. 28-29, the LGUs and rescue and relief agencies will conduct a post-disaster needs assessment.