Tacloban to get 400 homes in church, foundation tie-up

CEBU, Philippines - At least 400 families in Yolanda-stricken Tacloban City are expected to have their own “disaster-resilient” houses following the continued rehabilitation efforts of the Archdiocese of Palo and SM Cares Foundation, Inc.

In yesterday’s signing of the memorandum of agreement, Archbishop John Du expressed gratitude to the foundation for partnering with them in this rehabilitation move nine months after the strongest recorded typhoon battered Leyte’s capital.

Yu said the archdiocese will be providing the lot in which the houses will be built while SM will shoulder expenses related to the construction.

“Disaster-resilient” houses, officials noted, simply means that the structures will be able to withstand strong typhoons, earthquakes and other natural disasters.

In his speech, Du said they are happy to find someone who shares the same advocacy of helping the unprivileged people.

“Our mission is committed to provide better homes and assistance to the Yolanda survivors. I am happy that SM is one with us to help the poor people,” he said.

He also said the archdiocese will give seven hectares for a housing project of Yolanda survivors, two hectares of which are for SM Cares while the rest for the government and other sectors.

“I have suffered how it feels being homeless for one week staying only with a tarpaulin during Yolanda. The experience was really horrible. That was my motivation to help the homeless people and give them comfortable houses,” he said.

Carmen Linda Atayde, SM Cares executive director for education, said the housing project means changing lives and sending new hopes to the affected families.

“The disaster-resilient houses for about 2,000 individuals will give new chance to improve their lives,” she said, vowing that SM will not stop extending help to needy people.

SM Foundation will also provide sustainable livelihood program and scholarships to the families, Atayde said.

According to Marissa Fernan, vice president of SM Prime Holdings Inc., construction of the disaster-resilient houses will commence early September.

Fernan said with the new partnership, SM will already have given out a thousand houses designed to withstand strong typhoons and quakes in Bogo City, Cebu (200), Iloilo (200), Ormoc City (200), and Tacloban (400).

Fernan said they are hoping to have another phase and give out another thousand more to typhoon survivors.

She said that they are also thankful for their private sector partners in helping them with their housing project.

Towards the end of the month, SM Foundation is set to turn over the Tacloban City Hospital and the City Health Center.   (FREEMAN)