BOTOLAN, ZAMBALES – 184 households receives convergence project of the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) and Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) dubbed as KiSLAP ng CSAP (Kikilos ang Sandatahang Lakas Aagapay sa Pabahay ng Core Shelter Assistance Program) last June 29, 2019. 

Ten (10) years ago, heavy rainfalls brought by Typhoon Kiko devastated the municipality of Botolan. The increase of water level caused the earth dike in Bukaw River to breach, flooding the neighbouring Barangays. Thousands of individuals were affected and hundreds of houses were damaged.

DSWD offers programs and services for the early recovery and rehabilitation of the affected families. One of these is Core Shelter Assistance Program (CSAP).

CSAP aims to provide resilient and hazard free houses. This program is a partnership project between two parties; DSWD covers the material cost, while the Local Government Unit (LGU) of Botolan provides the relocation site, at Kalib-ungan Resettlement.

However, due to hazardous geographic location, no decent shelters were turned over, last July 2010 construction. The LGU then identified new site for the relocation, at Kainomayan Village.

The construction in Kainomayan Village began last March 2017 but after almost two years, the completion of the project is still delayed. On that account, a partnership between DSWD and AFP was initiated. Through KiSLAP ng CSAP, AFP deploys additional staff from Engineering battalion to support in the construction of core shelter units.

Construction began on February 2nd of this year. Two months later, all of the remaining units were already completed. Yesterday, June 29, the certificate of ownership were awarded to 184 households.

According to Secretary Rolando Bautista, DSWD “Sa mga kababayan natin na matiyaga at naghintay para sa araw na ito, malugod po namin ipinapabatid sa inyo na ngayong araw na ito ay mayroon na kayong ligtas at payapang masisilungan kasama ang inyong pamilya.”

Present in the awarding ceremony are DSWD Secretary Rolando Bautista, Regional Director Gemma B. Gabuya, Incoming Regional Director Marites M. Maristela, MGen. Leonard T. Agustin, BGen Emmanuel Anthony Ramos, Mayor Doris Maniquiz, Zambales Governor Hermogenes Ebdane, Neighborhood Association of Core Shelter Assistance Beneficiaries of Botolan , staff and officials from Philippine Army, DSWD and LGU Botolan Zambales.