Shelter assistance is being assured for families whose houses were damaged by a tornado, as government agencies and local authorities on Tuesday continue assessment and recovery efforts in Ilocos Sur.

Ilocos Sur Gov. Jeremias Singson confirmed this in a media interview following a tornado that hit parts of Cabugao, Sinait, Bantay and Narvacan in Ilocos Sur on late Monday afternoon, damaging 60 houses, including two that were totally destroyed.

Singson said the assistance includes “housing materials and financial support for repairs, depending on the extent of damage and the eligibility of affected families.”

Meanwhile, the Department of Human Settlements and Urban Development also has its Integrated Disaster Shelter Assistance Program that provides needs-based assistance to families whose homes are damaged by calamities.

As of this posting, local authorities are conducting damage assessment and validation to identify qualified beneficiaries and determine the appropriate assistance.

A portion of the Cabugao North Central School was also damaged by a tornado, prompting community volunteers to extend support in clearing debris.

As of Tuesday, the provincial government of Ilocos Sur reported about 5,026 families or 17,371 individuals affected by the continuing weather disturbances. Since Monday, as soon as the weather permits, national agencies and local government frontliners have been reaching out to affected areas to distribute food, non-food and shelter-repair kits.

The Provincial Health Office is also reaching out to affected families, offering free medical check-ups, consultations and medicines.

“Based on our previous experiences, health is one of our priorities. Having a healthy body means being more productive,” said Singson as he reported that under his administration, health facilities in Ilocos Sur have been upgraded in response to the needs of local communities. (PNA)