DBM releases P1.5 billion housing aid for Odette victims

MANILA, Philippines — The Department of Budget and Management has released P1.58 billion in shelter assistance to households hit by Typhoon Odette last year.

Budget Secretary Amenah Pangandaman approved the release of P1.58 billion to the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD).

The amount will be used to help in the reconstruction of 153,410 houses damaged by the typhoon in Western Visayas, Eastern Visayas, Northern Mindanao and Caraga.

Beneficiaries will receive P10,000 in emergency shelter assistance.

Up to 1.7 million houses were damaged by the typhoon in eight provinces, affecting almost 10 million people.

Apart from the housing assistance from the DSWD, the Department of Human Settlements and Urban Development committed to provide P100 million to provinces, where many houses were either damaged or destroyed by the typhoon.

Damage to agriculture, infrastructure and private property due to Odette hit nearly P30 billion.