Thirty (30) poor families will soon own a core shelter unit each at Sitio Korea, Bonuan Binloc, Dagupan City through DSWD’s Bottom-Up Budgeting (BUB) Project in the amount of Php1.8 million and Dagupan City‘s counterpart of Php 300,000.

The recently held groundbreaking ceremony convened the organized beneficiaries called Neighborhood Association on Shelter Assistance (NASA). The beneficiaries will work for the establishment of their core houses as their ‘sweat equity’ or counterpart, while the lot and skilled workers are provided by Dagupan City.

City Mayor Belen Fernandez who is eager on the outcome of the core shelter units is thankful for the support of DSWD. With the Project, people in the hazardous areas, particularly in the dumpsite, will be transferred to a safer ground. “Without the national agency, we could not have done much,” Mayor Fernandez mentioned.

In response, Dir. Marcelo Nicomedes J. Castillo assured the Agency’s ready response to the needs and requests of the City Government which will benefit families and communities. One way of helping the vulnerable families is through the BUB where identified needs are met.

The BUB Project is among the strategies of the government to empower community-folks in identifying and implementing projects as response to identified vulnerabilities in their own areas.

With the BUB Project through the Core Shelter Assistance Program (CSAP) scheme, 30 structurally-strong typhoon-resistant core shelter units (6 row houses with 5 units) will answer the needs of these poor families who are residents from a flood-prone-area near the dumpsite of the City. (by: Iryn D. Cubangbang, Information Officer II with photos from Western Pangasinan SWAD Team)