Joint DSWD and UNDP Recovery Program Continues in Bikol

LEGAZPI CITY, March 23  - The Department of Social Welfare and Development-United Nations Development Programme (DSWD-UNDP) joint recovery project continues in Bikol region to help victims of various calamities.

Bikolanos devastated by the series of destructive typhoons which hit the Bikol Region since 2006 are starting to recover from their ordeal, with a lot of help from the DSWD-UNDP Bicol Recovery Project.

DSWD regional information officer Evelyn Jerusalem explained the joint recovery project is a two-year program for disaster victims through the provision of shelter assistance, livelihood support, technical and vocational skills and capability building on disaster preparedness and mitigation.

It is being implemented in coordination with the National Economic and Development Authority (NEDA), the Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE) and the National Disaster Coordinating Council (NDCC) with funding assistance from the UNDP.

"This is on top of Calamity Assistance and Rehabilitation Efforts (CARE) and rehabilitation program for typhoons Ondoy and Pepeng victims," Jerusalem said.

A total of 570 beneficiaries from the provinces of Albay, Camarines Sur and Sorsogon are currently benefiting from the Bicol Recovery Project.

Barangay Guruyan, Juban, Sorsogon Neighborhood Association for Shelter Assistance (NASA) president Arnold Buella on the other hand said members of the organization are very happy for the support provided to them by the government through the DSWD and UNDP. "It's a big help for all of us here," he said.

Buella was among thousands of Bikolanos who were displaced because of the typhoons which totally damaged their houses. His family, like their neighbors had to endure almost a year of living in makeshift homes.

Their new house is clean, with bedrooms, kitchen and toilet. Vegetables and flowering plants were also planted in front of their house.

Through the efforts of the community and the municipal government, 112 core shelter units for 112 families were built with a budget of P7.8 million.

The UNDP, on the other hand, provided P1.8 million for the water and electricity connection in each core house.

Likewise, the DSWD and the UNDP will be completing the construction of a basic facility in Guruyan, Juban, Sorsogon scheduled for turnover to the local government unit before the end of this month.

Also on track is the turnover of water and electricity installations in Magallanes, Casiguran and Sorsogon City, as well as monitoring of Self-Employment Assistance Kaunlaran (SEA-K) projects. (PNA)