LINGAYEN—At least 29,000 families in Pangasinan who lost their homes from the fury of typhoon Cosme last May 17 will receive from 12 to 24 galvanized iron sheets each from the national government on orders of President Arroyo.

A systematized distribution of GI sheets for those whose houses were totally damaged by the typhoon in Pangasinan has already been devised for the purpose, according to the Department of Social Welfare and Development Regional Field Office Director Margarita Sampang.

Sampang said an agreement (MOA) was signed recently between her and Department of Public Works and Highways regional director Fidel Ginez in coordination with the Regional Disaster Coordinating Council headed by Chief Superintendent Romeo Hilomen.

The MOA was in connection with the P500 million worth of G.I. sheets promised by President Arroyo for the typhoon victims in Pangasinan, Zambales and La Union.

Defense Secretary Gilberto Teodoro, chairman of the National Disaster Coordinating Council, said the Department of Budget and Management already released the P500 million intended for the purchase of the g.i. sheets.

In this connection Public Works and Highways Secretary Hermogenes Ebdane reported to President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo on Wednesday in Bugallon, Pangasinan that the DPWH already bought 6,400 GI. sheets and 4,800 sheets worth P50,000 have already been delivered to Pangasinan.

To speed up the reconstruction of damaged homes in Pangasinan, President Arroyo ordered weekly deliveries of P50,000 worth of GI. sheets for 10 weeks till all these are delivered.

A report of the Provincial Disaster Coordinating Council headed by Governor Amado Espino Jr. showed some 29,000 houses in Pangasinan were totally damaged by typhoon Cosme.

Sampang said she, Ginez and Office of Civil Defense Regional Director Eugene Cabrera met recently to identify the responsibilities of their agencies in the task of identifying beneficiaries of GI sheets.

They agreed that prior to the distribution of the sheets, the DSWD will validate the list and number of beneficiaries and asses the materials needed by them, with the help of the provincial/city/municipality engineers.

Sampang said the DSWD will recommend to DPWH the number of GI sheets needed per municipality as a result of its assessment.

As agreed upon by the three regional directors, the roofingsheets will be released by the DPWH dstrict offices to requesting local government units per recommendation of DSWD Field Office 1 based on the rehabilitation plan submitted by the provincial government of Pangasinan.

A minimum of 12 GI sheets and maximum of 24 sheets will be given per family based on assessment of the municipal engineer.
On the other hand, the LGUs concerned complement the additional construction materials needed by beneficiaries, like wood, nails and others. (PNA)