Davao City  -The coastal town of Tarragona in Davao Oriental will soon construct 867 shelter units through the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) -Modified Shelter Assistance Program (MSAP) with a funding of Php 80,284,200.00.

Director of DSWD Priscilla N. Razon said the shelter units will benefit 867 families in the town that earlier lost their homes to natural or man-made disasters and non-recipients of any housing assistance.

“In this program, we will maximize indigenous resources –from manpower to materials. Shelter beneficiaries who are able and available will participate in building their homes. Each family head will work eight hours per day for a maximum of 10 days and will be paid Php 226.00 each day of work,” Director Razon explained.

Recently, Director Razon and Mayor Nestor L. Uy signed the Memorandum of Agreement for the implementation of the project.

Director Razon said LGU Tarragona will provide the resettlement lot which has been duly certified by the Mines and Geo-Sciences Bureau as safe from any hazard and risk.

The LGU will likewise field skilled workers to oversee construction and ensure that design and specifications are followed, she said.

“It is the national government’s goal of providing basic shelter to the homeless especially to disaster survivors. I believe acquiring descent homes following a calamity will make our recipients more productive and mindful of community undertakings,” Director Razon added.

As in previous DSWD-MSAP projects, shelter beneficiaries will organize into a Neighborhood Association for Shelter Assistance (NASA) to assist in developing their new community.

Mayor Uy and his staffs expressed their elation over the latest assistance extended by DSWD.

Earlier, Tarragona was a recipient of the Core Shelter Assistance Program (CSAP) of DSWD with over 200 units completed.

Currently, DSWD core shelters are continuously being built in the Typhoon Pablo-affected towns of Baganga, Boston, Cateel, New Bataan, Monkayo, Montevista and Compostela.

The DSWD shelter units are structurally-strong, disaster-resistant and environment-friendly which can withstand wind velocities up to 180 kph, intensity four (4) earthquakes, flooding and other similar hazards. (DSWD)