Butuan City – The Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) Caraga vow its commitment to continue helping families displaced from their homes due to calamities.

Through its Core Shelter Assistance Program (CSAP), the Department goals to reduce the number of homeless families every year, especially those who were victims of fire incidents, earthquakes and other similar hazards.

CSAP is a rehabilitation program which aims to provide structurally strong shelter units that can withstand approximately 180-220 kilometers per hour wind velocity and gustiness.

According to Lovelyn Plaza, Head of Disaster Reduction and Response Unit, the Government will not stop helping displaced families in the region by giving resilient and standard houses, as it is reflected by the agency’s goal in serving its community.

“With this, the government will continue to develop and promote the value of self-reliance among the beneficiaries and the community in order to have a livable environment,” she added.

Recently in Bislig City, 200 core shelter units were turned over to the families whose houses were totally destroyed by natural and man-made calamities. The 60 core shelter units were turned over last June 18, 2014 in Purok 12, Macarogo, Poblacion, while the remaining units were on March 1, 2016.

Regional Director Minda B. Brigoli personally graced the ceremonial turn over. In her message during the ceremony, Brigoli encouraged the beneficiaries about their rights and success for having the said units and challenged them to ensure sustainability.

The Php14M fund allotment for the construction of the said units was released last 2011 and another Php400,000.00 was provided for the beneficiaries who participated in the Cash-for-Work program for the building of the said units. ###(ABEGAIL R. ALVAREZ/Social Marketing Unit/DSWD Field Office Caraga)