From the 64 bunkhouses earlier built by the provincial government, some 57 families may now call home the core shelter units awarded to them by the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) in Region III.
This developed as Assistant Regional Director Maura dela Rosa led the turnover of the deed of donation to the municipal government of Arayat through Vice Mayor Larry Trinidad that will then turn over the housing units to the 57 families in Barangay San Juan Baño.
It was learned from the DSWD that these 57 families were victims of the landslide caused by typhoon Ondoy. Soon another 12 families will join them once these have been relocated from their current dwelling place at a weakened slope of the Arayat-Apalit set back levee. The governor had earlier ordered their relocation for the safety of these families.
“The 171 core shelter units cost P11.9M while the labor put in by the recipients under the cash for work program cost P1.1M, making a total cost of P13M,” dela Rosa revealed.
Governor Lilia G. Pineda, who had the bunkhouses built earlier as temporary dwellings of the landslide victims, again thanked the DSWD for the core shelter units and 3rd District Representative Aurelio “Dong” Gonzales, Jr. for providing the 1.5 hectare lot for the project.
“Maganda ang resulta ng pagtutulungan ng DSWD, Department of Education, National Housing Authority, pamahalaang panlalawigan at mga lokal na opisyal sa proyektong ito na pakikinabangan ng ating mga kababayan dito sa Arayat,” Pineda said.
Division Superintendent of Schools Nicolas Capulong announced that the DepEd will immediately construct a public high school in the area which shall start accepting first year students at the opening of the next school year.
Director Emerson Busa of the National Housing Authority (NHA) in Region III disclosed that their agency will take care of the land development in the area to come up with an entirely new community.
The governor also announced that some P10M has been allocated for the building of a new building at the Arayat District Hospital in Barangay Laquios.
“Magkakaroon ito ng kumpletong pasilidad – emergency room, operating room, dialysis center – upang maserbisyuhan hindi lamang ang mga relocated na pamilya kundi pati ang mga komunidad na malapit dito.”
The prospective recipients of the housing units led by San Juan Baño barangay captain Luisito Portacio expressed their gratefulness for all the assistance which the provincial government and the other agencies have provided them from the start.
The governor declared her optimism that this partnership with the various agencies shall result into more productive endeavors and better communities in the province. (Pampanga PIO)
