By Mariela Angella Oladive
A total of 55 families affected by a recent fire in Brgy. Airport, Mandurriao, received P15,000 each in financial assistance from the Department of Human Settlements and Urban Development (DHSUD) Regional Office 6 on June 27.
The payout is part of the Integrated Disaster Shelter Assistance Program – Emergency Shelter Support (IDSAP – ESS), newly implemented this year.
The assistance, amounting to P825,000 in total, marks the first payout by DHSUD under the IDSAP-ESS program. This was facilitated through the efforts of Iloilo City Congresswoman Julienne “Jam-Jam” Baronda, who led the payout event along with DHSUD Region 6 Regional Director Eva Maria Marfil.
Baronda shared that upon learning about the program in March, they immediately sought assistance from DHSUD, resulting in aid for the fire victims.
“When we learned about this program from DHSUD earlier this year, we sought assistance and managed to secure this aid for the fire victims. This is in addition to the immediate aid we coordinated with the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) a few days after the fire,” Baronda said in an interview.
She said the city government provided the list of beneficiaries through the Iloilo City Local Housing Office.
Previously, she had secured assistance from House Speaker Ferdinand Martin Romualdez, who provided P10,000 to those with totally burned houses and P5,000 to those with partially burned houses in Brgy. Tanza Bonifacio and Brgy. Rizal Estanzuela, Iloilo City Proper.
DHSUD allocated a budget of P200 million for the entire country, with Region 6 among the first to benefit from the program.
Regional Director Marfil emphasized that the IDSAP-ESS program caters to calamity victims, including those affected by floods, fires, and typhoons.
“This is the first release for Region 6, and we are currently catering to fire victims with totally damaged houses,” she stated.
After assisting Iloilo City, DHSUD plans to extend financial assistance to fire victims in Roxas City under the same program.
Aid will also be given to those affected by fires in Brgy. Rizal Estanzuela and Brgy. Tanza Bonifacio.
Barangay Captain of Brgy. Airport Mandurriao, Jose Benjie Macailig, expressed gratitude to the officials for their support.
One of the beneficiaries, 71-year-old Rogelio Abria Sr., shared, “We are very thankful for this program because it will help us buy materials to rebuild our homes.”
Abria, along with three other families, received P15,000 each for their totally damaged homes.
Jovelyn Ruda, a 38-year-old mother of five whose house was also completely destroyed, said, “We lost everything, even our clothes. I prioritize my children’s safety. My husband is unemployed, so this program is a big help for us to buy basic necessities like food.”