TEMPORARY SHELTERS. Officials in North Cotabato lead the ribbon cutting during the turnover ceremony of the initial five temporary transitional shelters in Barangay Magbok, Tulunan, North Cotabato on Monday (Dec. 2, 2019). Vice-Governor Emmylou Taliño-Mendoza has asked future donors to the earthquake-stricken areas to donate materials for the temporary transitional shelters instead of giving cash assistance to the municipality. (PNA photo by Che Palicte)
TULUNAN, North Cotabato – Vice Governor Emmylou Taliño-Mendoza has asked future donors to the earthquake-stricken areas here to donate materials for the temporary transitional shelters instead of giving cash assistance.
“Cash assistance will go to the account of the local government units (LGU) and there is this procurement process to which the implementation of a certain project will be delayed,” Mendoza said on Monday in an interview.
Mendoza said donors can help speed up rehabilitation by buying the materials themselves and donating these to the LGU, which in turn can use the donation to immediately start the construction of shelters.
She said officials are eyeing transitional shelters ranging from PHP28,800 to PHP32,200 for the estimated 100 shelters to be built in Barangay Magbok here.
On Monday, five temporary transitional shelters in the barangay were turned over to the beneficiaries and 40 more similar shelters will be constructed, she said.
“Beneficiaries will be chosen by the LGU and Disaster Risk Reduction Management Office (DRRMO), for they know the needs of the people. We just wanted to make sure that those who are living in the tent city will be given a comfortable house to live especially during this Christmas,” the vice governor said.
She said the provincial government is seeking to build about 100 temporary transitional shelters in a 3.5-hectare land here, pending the certification for safe habitation from the Mines and Geosciences Bureau (MGB) and Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology (Phivolcs).
“We hope to start the construction next week,” Mendoza said.
Meanwhile, Juan Dugaong, one of the beneficiaries thanked the vice-governor for the initiative and vowed to take good care of the shelter awarded to them.
“Our house in the población area is no longer safe due to the cracks which occurred after the three strong earthquakes,” Dugaong said.
About 2,000 families were rendered homeless by the strong tremors that hit this municipality in October. (PNA)
