By Michelle Ducut
The Department of Social Welfare and Development-Bicol (DSWD-5) has established “tent cities” in Camarines Sur to provide temporary shelter for families severely affected by Severe Tropical Storm Kristine (international name Trami) in late October.
In an interview on Monday, DSWD-5 Director Norman Laurio explained that the agency set up larger and safer tent cities for displaced residents whose homes were either totally or partially destroyed due to extreme flooding caused by the storm. The tent cities have been set up in the towns of Bula and Baao in Camarines Sur.
The DSWD-5 has distributed 100 family tents that can accommodate up to five families per tent, and 200 modular tents, each of which can shelter one or two families. These temporary shelters are intended to provide comfort and safety while the affected families wait for permanent housing solutions.
Laurio emphasized the agency’s commitment to ensuring that the needs of Bicolanos, particularly those severely affected by the disaster, are met. Based on data from local government units (LGUs), 82, 193 houses were damaged by Kristine, with 6, 493 completely destroyed and 75, 700 partially damaged.
In addition to shelter, the DSWD-5 will offer financial assistance to the affected families. Those whose houses were totally destroyed will receive PHP 10, 000, while families with partially damaged homes will be granted PHP 5, 000. Thorough validation will continue to ensure that all affected families are accounted for.
As of Monday, 16, 782 families, or 70, 288 individuals, remain displaced. Of these, 7, 086 families (31, 741 people) are staying in 147 evacuation centers, while 9, 696 families (38, 547 people) have sought refuge with relatives.
To date, the DSWD-5 has provided PHP 423 million in humanitarian assistance to the six provinces in the region affected by Kristine.