QUEZON CITY — As a pro-active measure, the Department of Human Settlements and Urban Development (DHSUD) has activated its shelter clusters in Luzon areas to ensure timely assistance to families affected by severe Tropical Storm “Julian.”
Upon the instruction of DHSUD Secretary Jose Rizalino Acuzar, Undersecretary for Disaster Response Randy Escolango issued a memorandum dated Monday to Regional Offices in Ilocos Region (RO1), Cagayan Valley (RO2), Central Luzon (RO3), Calabarzon (RO4A) and Cordillera Administrative Region, ordering the activation of their respective shelter clusters.
“Ang agaran tugon ng DHSUD ay dapat masiguro ng ating mga Regional Offices. Dapat lagi tayong nakahanda na ayudahin ang mga apektadong kababayan sa oras ng sakuna,” Secretary Acuzar said.
“Dapat lagi tayong pro-active para maibigay natin ang tulong kung kailan ito kailangan ng ating mga kababayan,” he added.
In the memorandum, Undersecretary Escolango instructed the concerned Regional Directors to closely monitor their respective jurisdictions and to facilitate emergency response and humanitarian assistance, if needed.
“All concerned Regional Directors are enjoined to coordinate with the respective shelter cluster members within the regional convene using all available means,” he added.
The move was prompted by the National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council’s Memorandum No. 244 s. 2024 which calls for activation and or placing on standby of response clusters due to “Julian.” The DHSUD is the head of the shelter cluster.
To ensure timely and proper actions, the regional directors were also directed to submit daily situational report.
Meanwhile, the DHSUD has already approved more than P30 million assistance for victims of typhoon “Carina” and fire incidents in Bacoor City, Cavite and other parts of the country. Some victims have already received cash assistance from the Integrated Disaser Shelter Assistance Program (IDSAP) of DHSUD.
Under IDSAP, the DHSUD provides cash assistance amounting to P30,000 for those with totally damaged houses due to calamities, man-made or natural, and P10,000 for the partially damaged. (DHSUD)
