President Arroyo has awarded 250 shelter units to 840 typhoon-stricken families in Albay province, bringing the total number of delivered shelter units for disaster victims to 31,663 units nationwide.

Under the Core Shelter Assistance Project (CSAP) of the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD), President Arroyo turned over 250 Certificates of Ownership to disaster victims at the Tagaytay Resettlement Site in Camalig, Albay.

DSWD Secretary Esperanza Cabral said the national government has funded a total of 31,663 shelter units from 2001 to 2009 worth P1.4 billion.

Cabral said Luzon, which is often the most badly hit island has the most number of shelter units with 16,932, followed by Mindanao with 15,269, and the Visayas with 3,083 units.

Of the total units in Luzon, 7,108 were built in the Bicol Region.

The DSWD chief said the 14.5 hectares resettlement site in Barangay Tagaytay was purchased by the Municipality of Camalig and developed by the National Housing Authority.

“These families are now proud owners of environment-friendly and structurally-strong shelter units that can withstand typhoons with up to 200 kph wind velocity, earthquakes up to intensity four in the Richter Scale and other natural hazards,” Secretary Cabral stated.

President Arroyo said that the government will also allocate funds for the construction of a school building in the resettlement area.

The event was also highlighted by the presentation of the 30,000th beneficiary of CSAP.

Salvador Oraye, the 30,000th beneficiary, from Sitio Basud, San Rafael, Guinobatan, Albay, has been awarded a Certificate of Ownership at the Quitago Resettlement Site also in Albay.

He also received a check worth P5,000 from President Arroyo.

Cabral also acknowledged the support of Habitat for Humanity Philippines, the government of Italy, International Organization for Migration and Senator Juan Miguel Zubiri for the completion of the core shelter units in Camalig, Albay.