Vice President and Housing and Urban Development Coordinating Council (HUDCC) chairperson Leni Robredo recently met with heads of the Key Shelter Agencies (KSAs) to discuss solutions for the victims of super typhoon Ferdie last September.
Batanes was placed under a state of calamity Sept. 15, since the island and its surrounding islets were directly hit by Ferdie.
According to Robredo, the typhoon caused heavy damage. She added that the island needs electricity, potable water and communication services.
Robredo said residents lost their homes as well as their livelihood. She revealed the meeting with the KSA’s last week involved strategizing means and consolidating resources to rebuild homes in the province.
“Bagama’t walang namatay sa ating mga kababayan sa Batanes, marami naman ang nawalan ng tahanan at iyon ang gusto nating matugunan nang agaran at mabilisan,” Robredo said.
The housing recovery strategy seeks to skip the transition from temporary housing to more permanent housing for the residents of Batanes.
Robredo noted the process for application of temporary housing relief is too long, with beneficiaries often receiving the temporary aid years after the storm hits.
Coordinated efforts
HUDCC committed to ensure coordinated efforts from the six KSAs under its umbrella in procuring materials for construction, transportation of goods and warehousing. As Batanes is under a state of calamity and also a remote island region, there are no stores where housing materials may be bought, thus the need to procure materials.
“Kailangan talaga ng pagkakaisa na madala ang tulong sa Batanes para mas mapabilis ang pagdadala ng mga materyales para sa pabahay,” Robredo stressed.
Post Disaster Needs Assessment (PDNA) is currently being conducted by the National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council (NDRRMC) in Batanes.
In line with the PDNA, Pag-Ibig sent a roving team to Batanes last week to canvass the needs of over two thousand Pag-IBIG Fund members. They also brought generators to answer the electricity needs of affected families.
The National Housing Authority (NHA) sent a roving team to canvass the needs of victims in terms for housing materials.
Robredo appealed for support from various sectors for the relief operations for the victims of Typhoon Ferdie in Batanes.
“I appeal to the private sector, humanitarian aid organizations and my fellow countrymen and women to again assist the efforts of government and consolidate support for the relief and recovery efforts for our fellow Filipinos in Batanes,” she said.