Secretary Celia Yangco of the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) exhorted fifty family-beneficiaries of the Department’s Core Shelter Assistance Project to look into the welfare of their newfound community, emphasizing the value of education of their children.  The visiting official gave a message during the blessing and turn-over of the typhoon-resistant type of shelter to the helpless Typhoon victims last Monday, June 21 at Sitio San Roque in Barangay Larrazabal of Naval town in Biliran province.

Yangco furthermore told them that that such is the way to lift them up from poverty, adding that they could only be helped if they help themselves.  She added that it is their responsibility to “nurture” what government has provided them, not only in the physical development of their community but also in the promotion of the well-being.

She congratulated the provincial government under then Governor Rogelio Espina, incoming Congressman, for the P2.2 million counterpart which came in the form of the P1.2 million lot,  materials for the completion of each unit amounting to a total of P535,000.00,  five set of carpentry tools for a total of P50,000.00, food for food-for-work scheme for the model house construction in the equivalent amount of P40,000.00, and provision of food for the construction proper worth P375,000.00.

Edgar Sabinay, a core shelter beneficiary, said that in the past, if it is high tide, “we were so worried about our children, especially if we are at work.”  He later urged his fellow beneficiaries to “give respect for those who helped us.”

DSWD Field Office Eight Director Leticia Corillo, meanwhile, bared that the DSWD has earlier provided some 100 unit for Typhoon Milenyo victims of year 2006.  She revealed that the shelter unit then costs P25,000.00 each, unlike the fifty units which amount to P70,000.00 per structure.