Over a hundred families affected by Severe Tropical Storm “Tino” have taken refuge in modular housing units (MHUs) at the Bayanihan Village in San Remigio, Cebu, according to the Department of Human Settlements and Urban Development (DHSUD).
The MHUs, built in Barangay Poblacion, were used as temporary shelters during a preemptive evacuation ordered by local authorities. DHSUD Secretary Jose Ramon Aliling said the deployment of modular units demonstrates their value as rapid-response housing for disaster-hit areas.
“Patunay na kapaki-pakinabang ang mga MHUs natin sa mga Bayanihan Village sa panahon ng kalamidad. Nagamit ito ng ating mga kababayang Cebuano nuong lumindol, ngayon naman dahil sa bagyo (Our MHUs in Bayanihan Villages have proven to be useful during times of calamity. Our Cebuano compatriots used them during the earthquake, and now they are being used because of the typhoon),” Aliling said.
He added that the initiative follows the directive of President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr., who ordered the continued construction of Bayanihan Villages in disaster-affected communities to ensure safer and more comfortable temporary housing.
The Bayanihan Village program, led by DHSUD, forms part of the government’s broader post-disaster housing and rehabilitation strategy. The project aims to provide modular, climate-resilient shelters in areas frequently hit by typhoons and earthquakes, reducing reliance on makeshift evacuation sites.
Several families previously staying in temporary tent cities following the recent 7.4-magnitude earthquake in the region have also relocated to the modular homes.
“Hangad po ng Pangulo ang mas ligtas at komportableng masisilungan para sa mga nabibiktima ng kalamidad, kaya naman patuloy ang DHSUD sa pag-agapay sa ating mga kababayan (The President desires safer and more comfortable shelter for disaster victims, which is why DHSUD continues to support our countrymen),” Aliling said.
DHSUD said it continues to expand the Bayanihan Village program across the Visayas and Mindanao to support long-term recovery and resilience-building efforts in disaster-prone areas.