President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. has ordered setting up modular shelter units to provide more comfortable accommodation than tents for residents displaced by the recent devastating earthquakes.

During the situation briefing on Monday in Tarragona, Davao Oriental on the twin earthquakes that hit the region on Oct. 10, President Marcos said the Department of Human Settlements and Urban Development (DHSUD) would put up 150 modular shelter units in the province for earthquake victims.

“’Yung naging solusyon namin sa Cebu was tent city. Pero mayroon tayong mas bagong sistema,” said the President, who presided over the meeting held outside the Tarragona Municipal Hall.

“We will change the tent cities into the modular shelters that we have found to be mas matibay, mas kumportable, para kahit na medyo matagalan,” the Chief Executive added, noting that rebuilding damaged homes would take some time.

DHSUD said they will start putting up the modular shelter units on Friday, so displaced residents can begin occupying them by Monday.

The modular shelter units are equipped with basic amenities such as toilet facilities, water and electrical supply and common kitchens.

The DHSUD modular homes will be built under the department’s Integrated Disaster Shelter Assistance Program (IDSAP).

Earlier, in compliance with President Marcos’ directive, the DHSUD deployed modular shelter units in three of the hardest-hit areas in Cebu province, namely Daan Bantayan, San Remigio and Medellin, for victims of the Sept. 30 earthquake.

DHSUD Secretary Jose Ramon Aliling said the modular shelter units will be set up on the “Bayanihan Villages” that were ordered established by President Marcos to shelter victims of the 6.9 magnitude earthquake that struck Cebu province. | PND