A few months ago, Alejandro Dela Torre, a resident-beneficiary of DSWD’s Core Shelter Assistance Project (CSAP), summed up the bayanihan spirit that was present in the community with these words, “we do what we can; we help with the work.” (see article: https://fo8.dswd.gov.ph/…/rebuilding-lives-one-shelter-…/)

Now, three months later, the bayanihan spirit is still alive and well, as the resident-beneficiaries celebrate the completion of the construction of 60 CSAP units in Felixville, Brgy. Sabang II, Allen, Northern Samar.

For Deolito Floralde, this is also true. Although some would consider him a person-with- disability, this does not stop him from pitching in for the good of the community. Using his skills as an electrician, he helped set up the community’s electrical system. “Mao man la an akon kaya. Di man ako makapala, di man ako makapagpako-pako, wiring la an akon.” he remarks. (This is what I can do. I couldn’t help with the shoveling or the hammering, but I can do wiring.”)

Floralde and Dela Torre are just a few of the resident-beneficiaries who attended the official turn-over and blessing ceremony held onsite on January 25, 2018, celebrating the completion of the units.

According to DSWD Director Restituto Macuto, “This is your new community. The power to make it into a model community is in your hands. Bayanihan niyo yan! The land here is fertile. Maximize the land that is available. As long as we are hardworking, there will be FAITH – Food Always Inside The Home. All it takes to make our community better is hard work and perseverance. Let us value this gift from the government, from our President Rodrigo Roa Duterte, to our Local Government Unit who thought about those who are vulnerable to disasters and donated the land. Let us value this gift by taking care of it.

Enjoy the day, thank God that you now have a sturdy home that you can call your own. I urge you to improve and take care of these units – for yourselves, your family and your community. Congratulations! God bless us all! God bless Northern Samar! God bless Eastern Visayas and God bless Region 8!”

Director Macuto also thanked the Local Government Unit for their support to DSWD, not only with CSAP, but also with plans for building a warehouse that will serve as a hub for relief goods stockpile in Northern Samar. According to Director Macuto, this is very timely, since the recent weather disturbances affecting Region VIII have prompted the need for faster and more efficient delivery of relief goods in the province.

These units were built under the CSAP as a response to typhoon Nona. DSWD set aside a total of P9,600,000.00 for this project – each unit costs Php 160,000.00. They are built to be environmentally-friendly and structurally strong, able to withstand up to 220 kph of wind velocity, earthquakes up to intensity 4 on the Richter Scale and any other similar disasters. The LGU counterpart provided the lot.

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