Hon. Secretary Corazon ‘Dinky’ Soliman exhorted that the ultimate goal of disaster preparedness which is ‘zero casualty’ can be done by the converged efforts of  various national agencies, Local Government Units, private institutions and groups that extend mitigating, relief, and rehabilitative services.

This was her message said during the inter-agency cluster meeting of the Core Shelter Assistance Program (CSAP) of DSWD in Santa, Ilocos Sur, recently. The CSAP provides financial assistance in the form of construction materials amounting to Php 70,000.00 to a typhoon victim whose house is totally destroyed and is incapable of rebuilding it. This assistance will build for a typhoon-resistant designed home called ‘core shelter unit’.

The short visit of DSWD Secretary was extraordinary since it was inserted only while on  her  way to Bangued, Abra for project site visit on Pantawid Pamilyang Pilipino Program and other poverty reduction programs of DSWD.

“The Philippines’ weather is very unpredictable because of climate change. Thus, preparedness is the most important action, Secretary Soliman mentioned. ”

As a summary of the meeting,  at least 200 core shelter units  in  Rosales, San Nicolas and Bani in Pangasinan, and in Sto. Domingo, Ilocos Sur are being monitored awaiting for their completion. The National Housing Authority (NHA) also committed Php 12 million each  for said towns as funds for site development subject to submission of required documents.  (by: Iryn D. Cubangbang, Regional Information Officer)