The government has rolled out emergency housing assistance for families displaced by the powerful 7.8-magnitude earthquake that struck Mindanao, with shelter agencies mobilizing cash aid, repair materials, and temporary housing support as recovery efforts gather pace.
Acting on the directive of President Ferdinand Marcos Jr., the Department of Human Settlements and Urban Development (DHSUD) and its attached agencies have begun deploying assistance packages to affected communities, particularly in hard-hit areas of Sarangani Province and Region 12.
During a situation briefing with local officials and Cabinet members, DHSUD Secretary Jose Ramon Aliling outlined the government’s housing response, which includes modular shelter units, construction materials, housing loan payment relief, and financial assistance for damaged homes.
At the center of the effort is the National Housing Authority’s Emergency Housing Assistance Program (EHAP), which provides P30,000 for families whose homes were totally destroyed and P10,000 for those with partially damaged houses, subject to validation by local government units.
Processing of assistance has already begun in affected areas, with authorities prioritizing families that suffered the most severe losses.
“The directive of the President is clear. Our kababayan must immediately feel government support as they recover from the earthquake,” Aliling said. “At DHSUD, we focus on urgent assistance to address housing needs and help them rebuild their lives.”
The housing response highlights the growing role of disaster-resilient shelter programs as the Philippines faces increasingly frequent and destructive natural calamities. Quick access to housing assistance is often seen as critical to accelerating community recovery, particularly in rural areas where families rely heavily on self-built homes and limited financial resources.
Aliling said DHSUD has directed all shelter agencies to coordinate closely with local governments to speed up beneficiary identification and the release of assistance.
The DHSUD chief also joined President Marcos during inspections of quake-hit communities, where officials assessed damage to homes, public infrastructure, and livelihoods.
As recovery efforts shift from emergency response to rebuilding, housing assistance is expected to become one of the government’s key tools in helping affected families return to normalcy and restore economic activity in impacted communities.
