'Para aksyon-agad': DHSUD crafts program to expedite shelter assistance to calamity victims
The Department of Human Settlements and Urban Development (DHSUD) has crafted a comprehensive emergency shelter response plan in a bid to expedite and ensure a systematic government response for families that would lose their homes during natural calamities.
Dubbed as Integrated Disaster Shelter Assistance Program (IDSAP), its creation was through the department order issued by DHSUD Secretary Jose Rizalino Acuzar who said that it will ensure the effective and efficient delivery of assistance for families affected by disasters.
“This program defines the interventions and provides implementation guidelines during its three phases: emergency response, early recovery, and rehabilitation and recovery,” said Acuzar.
“We want a dependable government under Bagong Pilipinas and this program will ensure that the assistance we will be providing is holistic, from the disaster’s onset up to rehabilitation and recovery,” he added.
In the emergency response phase, Acuzar explained that coordinated efforts among different agencies and organizations shall ensue, following the onset of the disaster to mitigate its effects. It likewise includes the provision of a one-time emergency shelter support (ESS) for households with totally damaged houses to address their immediate housing needs.
He said this will ensure immediate receipt of the government’s assistance by calamity-affected residents.
DHSUD Undersecretary for Disaster Response Randy Escolango was tasked to implement the emergency response phase under IDSAP and was also assigned to constitute the Shelter Response Team (SRT), which is aimed to assist and augment efforts on the ground to deliver shelter assistance for disaster victims._
Under this phase, a one-time emergency shelter support amounting to P15,000 shall be given to eligible families, subject to availability of funds.
Eligibility and documentation requirements are likewise provided, as well as the vulnerability criteria.
Also detailed in the issuance are procedures on the implementation of emergency shelter support, fund management, monitoring and reporting of the implementation and the structure and manpower requirements.
Meanwhile, IDSAP’s second and third phases shall focus on early recovery, and rehabilitation and recovery. Efforts on Phase 2 are directed towards helping affected areas regain a sense of normalcy and stability.
The last phase, meanwhile, covers the restoration and improvement of living conditions post-disaster and in reducing risk factors, in accordance with the “build back better” principles.