QUEZON CITY -- The Department of Human Settlements and Urban Development (DHSUD) has started rolling out assistance to thousands of families affected by Typhoon Odette that struck various parts of the country recently.

DHSUD Secretary Eduardo Del Rosario personally carried out days of inspections and assessment to determine the extent of damage, particularly on housing, in areas hardest hit by the typhoon, including Surigao City, Siargao, Cebu and Dinagat Islands.

As of Monday, it was established that at least 506,4040 residential structures were either damaged or destroyed by “Odette”, composed of 339,327 houses partially damaged while 167,077 were totally destroyed by the storm in regions 4B, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13 and BARMM.

In coordination with USAID and the International Organization for Migration, DHSUD had already distributed shelter-grade tarpaulin sheets to affected families. A total of 5,598 shelter-grade tarpaulin sheets were handed over to ‘Odette’-affected local-government units in Cebu, Bohol, Southern Leyte and CARAGA region.

The Department likewise joined forces with the Philippine Coast Guard in distributing 14,000 more shelter-grade tarpaulin sheets, 250 modular tents for evacuation centers and 1,310 solar lamps in other typhoon-hit areas.

Meanwhile, 700 Shelter Repair Kits, which contain CGI sheets, lumber, plywood, tarps, nails and carpentry tools were sent to the CARAGA region on Monday while 300 more such kits are slated to arrive in Maasin City on Friday.

DHSUD also handed out a total of PHP487.5-million worth of financial assistance to typhoon-affected regions 4B, 6, 7, 8, 10 and CARAGA, with recipient families set to receive PHP5,000 each. A total of 97,500 families will benefit from the cash assistance.

According to Secretary Del Rosario, the Department intends to complete its commitment of providing PHP100 million per typhoon-hit province with severe damage to housing and procurement of housing materials for targeted island LGUs with onsite delivery during the first quarter of 2022.

“We are hastening efforts to immediately assist families in typhoon-hit regions, especially those whose homes were damaged or destroyed by Odette. We are also stepping up coordination with other government agencies to ensure faster delivery of relief and financial assistance to regions that were battered by the typhoon,” the housing czar said.

“Rest assured that the government is doing the best it can to help all affected families as soon as possible,” he added.

Meanwhile, the Pag-IBIG Fund, a key shelter agency of DHSUD, has allocated PHP5 billion in calamity loans for members affected by Odette.

According to the Fund, members may borrow up to 80% of their total Pag-IBIG Savings, with an interest rate of only 5.95%, which is the lowest in the market. Such loans are payable for up to three years with a grace period of two months.

Secretary Del Rosario had personally conducted ocular inspections in Surigao province in the aftermath of Odette. The housing czar flew to Dinagat Island and also visited Palawan with President Rodrigo Duterte to check on local residents and assess the extent of damage brought about by the typhoon.

President Rodrigo Duterte has reportedly instructed government agencies to “use all government assets we can” in order to provide for people affected by the typhoon. (DHSUD)