Davao City –The Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) emergency shelter assistance for survivors of Typhoon Pablo was P10,000 per family with partially damaged houses and not P30,000.00 as claimed by some groups in Davao Oriental.

This was the official statement of DSWD Regional Director Priscilla N. Razon over the weekend amidst reports that DSWD disbursed P30,000.00 per family.

“Prior to the turnover of P10,000 to every family with partly damaged house, a memorandum of agreement was signed in 2013 between DSWD and the Provincial Governments of Davao Oriental, Compostela Valley and Davao Del Norte,” Director Razon recounted.

The Emergency Shelter Assistance (ESA) was part of the relief operations undertaken following the devastation brought by Tropical Storm Pablo (Bopha) on December 4, 2012, causing massive destruction mostly in the areas of Davao Oriental and Compostela Valley.

“The P10,000.00 shelter aid enabled each affected family purchase basic materials to repair their homes. This amount was complemented with the shelter kit and other building materials like GI sheets, nails and lumbers donated by other responding agencies or organizations,” Director Razon explained.

DSWD records show that a total of P359,970,000.00 was disbursed under ESA –P178,760,000.00 for Davao Oriental, P166,200,000.00 in Compostela Valley, and P15,010,000.00 in Davao Del Norte.

For families who lost their homes, we provided permanent shelters through Modified Shelter Assistance Program (MSAP) with a funding of P70,000.00 per unit, Director Razon added.

Under MSAP, DSWD, in collaboration with the Provincial Governments of Davao Oriental, Compostela Valley and Davao Del Norte, built a total of 26,969 units. Constructed in Davao Oriental were 18,168 houses, 8743 in Compostela Valley and 58 in Davao Del Norte.

Other assistance delivered by DSWD and Task Force Pablo, in close coordination with local government units and other disaster responders include family food packs, cash for work, financial assistance, temporary shelters, and livelihood projects. (DSWD)