Albay Releases P3-M Core Shelter Assistance to Evacuees

LEGAZPI CITY, Jan. 7 - The provincial government of Albay has released the initial assistance to the remaining evacuees from Barangay Anoling, Camalig town amounting to P3 million for the construction of their core shelters.

Albay Governor Joey Salceda announced Thursday that the remaining 258 families from Barangay Anoling can start building their core shelters (houses) in the lots already given to them by the provincial government of Albay inside the FVR resettlement site.

"The P3 million is an assistance of the provincial government so that the remaining families who are still occupying several classrooms in the Anoling Elementary School (which is within the six-kilometer Permanent Danger Zone) so that they will be completely transferred to their new homes and ease them the burden of scampering for their lives during lahar floods, eruption and even typhoons," Salceda explained.

The governor said that the "no classes policy" must be observed if classrooms are still being occupied by evacuees.

"I reiterated to the mayor of Camalig town that it is against the provincial policy for evacuees being moved out of classrooms since it violates their dignity," he said.

Salceda pressed for the immediate release of the fund after learning that evacuees were moved out from classrooms so that classes could be held.

"I ordered the Provincial Engineering office to set up three tents which is good for six classrooms at the FVR resettlement site in Camalig town so that classes can proceed while classrooms continue to serve as temporary homes of evacuees while waiting for the completion of their core shelter," the governor said. (PNA)