‘Money to help families with unmet housing needs’

First Lady Diann Tudela Torres, right, joins the officers and members of the Lady Diann Foundation in last Thursday’s check donation to the Commonwealth Advocates for Recovery Efforts in a simple turnover ceremony at the Governor’s Office conference room. (Jon Perez)

The Lady Diann Foundation donated $11,500 to the Commonwealth Advocates for Recovery Efforts last Thursday in a simple turnover ceremony at the Governor’s Office conference room. The money will be added to CARE’s fund that will be given to families with still unmet housing needs like rebuilding their homes damaged by Typhoon Soudelor in August.

CARE, composed of 60 different groups in the private and public sector, is the lead agency that is helping families repair or rebuild their homes after Soudelor hit Saipan last year. Case managers from the American Red Cross helped in identifying the families with the most urgent needs.

Foundation vice president Geri Dela Cruz said Saipan residents had to do whatever they can after the typhoon. “That’s why we launched the Road to Recovery campaign to assist the victims in rebuilding their homes. CARE has partnered with a lot of groups and organizations for the long-term recovery program.”

Foundation president Diann Tudela Torres said their foundation has come a long way since Soudelor. “LDF was immediately launched after the typhoon. A lot of people from the mainland wanted to help but don’t know how. Our partners from the U.S. gave food, personal hygiene products, and other basic needs of the people of Saipan after Soudelor.”

“Skywalker [Communications Group] also did their share by hosting the Raise the Roof dinner where they gave all the proceeds to LDF. We just wanted to help rebuild the homes of a lot of families here on Saipan. We wanted to know that everyone is living comfortably,” Torres added.

Fourteen individuals were the initial recipients of the money with CARE assisting their cases. LDF’s Road to Recovery program came out with their own priority list with each level having a corresponding amount given ($1,000 to level 4; $700 level 3; and $500 level 2).

“We are hoping to finally bring closure to families who need the money most in order for them to rebuild their homes. It seems that everything is back to normal on Saipan but there are still a lot of families living in their yards,” said Dela Cruz.

CARE president Alex Sablan thanked LDF and Gov. Ralph DLG Torres’ administration for the monetary contribution and assistance of various government agencies in their recovery efforts. “With the help of American Red Cross’ disaster case management program, we made sure that all efforts were exhausted for the families to get funds but were denied grants by [the Federal Emergency Management Agency] or [Small Business Administration] loans,” said Sablan.

The 14 recipients are Robert Crisostimo (level 2); Maria Aldan, Teresita Jose, Emeritha Rangamar, and Moses Rios (level 3); and Janet Cabrera, Ana Cepeda, Juana Dela Cruz, Maureen Deleon Guerrero, Carmen Fitipol, Tomilynn John, Ronald Manlona, Cynthia Mendiola, and Carmen Rabauliman (level 4).