MANILA – The Department of Human Settlements and Urban Development (DHSUD) is preparing to send modular shelter units (MSUs) to Davao Oriental to aid families displaced by the twin earthquakes that struck the province on October 10.

Following President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr.’s directive for all government agencies to assist quake-affected communities, DHSUD Secretary Jose Ramon Aliling said a team from the agency’s Central Office and Regional Office 11 has been mobilized to assess the needs of local government units (LGUs) in coordination with other national agencies and non-government organizations.

The MSUs will serve as temporary shelters for families affected by the magnitude 7.4 and 6.8 earthquakes and will be established within Bayanihan Villages to be identified by the LGUs.

“Ang pagtatayo po ng Bayanihan Villages ay iniutos ng Pangulong Marcos Jr. para agarang matulungan ang ating mga kababayang na-displace dahil sa lindol (The establishment of Bayanihan Villages was ordered by President Marcos Jr. to immediately assist our countrymen displaced by the earthquake),” Aliling said.

He added that the President has directed all government forces to provide every possible form of assistance to affected residents in the Davao region.

“Ang hangad ng Pangulong Marcos Jr. ay mabilis na pagbangon ng ating mga kababayan mula sa kalamidad. Kaya naman nagba-bayanihan ang lahat ng ahensya ng gobyerno kasama na rin ang pribadong sektor (President Marcos Jr.’s wish is for our countrymen to recover quickly from the calamity. That is why all government agencies, including the private sector, are doing their part),” Aliling said.

The DHSUD is coordinating with the Departments of Public Works and Highways, Social Welfare and Development, Health, and Information and Communications Technology, as well as the Armed Forces of the Philippines and other organizations, to ensure efficient delivery of assistance.

The department earlier began establishing Bayanihan Villages in Bogo City and the towns of Daan Bantayan, San Remigio, and Medellin in Cebu, which were also affected by a magnitude 6.9 earthquake on September 30.