The Department of Human Settlements and Urban Development in Bicol (DHSUD-5) will provide more than PHP17 million worth of shelter assistance to families affected by the devastation of Severe Tropical Storm Opong (international name Bualoi) in Masbate.

Marie Amoroso, DSHUD-5 director, said the augmentation aid on Monday includes 5,000 shelter-grade tarpaulins and 700 shelter kits.

“We’ll be sending 5,000 shelter-grade tarps and 700 shelter kits, worth a total of almost PHP17 million,” she said.

Households with partially damaged houses are priorities in the distribution of tarpaulins and repair kits, as these can be used to cover and repair existing structures.

“We’ll prioritize partially damaged homes for shelter-grade tarps, as they can still be covered,” she said.

Aside from the repair kits, the department will give cash assistance under the Integrated Disaster Shelter Assistance Program for families with destroyed houses.

“Financial assistance for totally damaged houses is PHP30,000 per household and PHP10,000 for partially damaged houses,” Amoroso added.

Office of Civil Defense in Bicol data as of 1:30 p.m. showed that 4,616 houses were partially damaged and 1,070 were totally destroyed. (PNA)