356 houses damaged by Crising

AT least 356 houses were damaged by Tropical Storm Wipha, locally named Crising, the Department of Human Settlements and Urban Development (DHSUD) said on Sunday, noting that it is mobilizing assistance for the families affected.

“Shelter aid is now underway for families whose houses were either partially or totally damaged by the onslaught of Tropical Storm Crising in several regions,” the state agency said in a statement.

A report by the DHSUD’s regional offices noted that about 183 housing units in Region VI (Western Visayas) were damaged by the storm, while the Zamboanga Peninsula and Negros Island Region saw 87 and 65 damaged houses, respectively.

The department said it has requested 5,000 shelter-grade tarpaulins from the International Organization for Migration for families with damaged homes, especially in the regions of Western Visayas and the Negros Island.

DHSUD’s local offices have also been coordinating with local government units and other government agencies to provide aid under its Integrated Disaster Shelter Assistance Program (IDSAP), Undersecretary for Disaster Response Henry L. Yap.

“In compliance with the directive of President Ferdinand Marcos Jr., we should start preparing the necessary post disaster assistance to affected families,” Mr. Yap said.

Under the IDSAP, families with totally damaged houses due to natural or human-induced disasters are provided with unconditional cash assistance worth P30,000. Likewise, families with partially damaged homes are granted P10,000.

Wipha intensified into a severe tropical storm before exiting the Philippine area of responsibility on Saturday. It has affected a total of 96,791 individuals or 37,598 families across 417 villages, the National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council said. — Beatriz Marie D. Cruz