Manila, Philippines - At least 8,000 new homes will be distributed to victims of typhoon “Sendong” in Cagayan de Oro and Iligan City, Vice President Jejomar Binay said yesterday.
Binay, chairman of the Housing and Urban Development Coordinating Council and Pag-IBIG Fund, tasked National Housing Authority (NHA) general manager Chito Cruz to immediately relocate the affected families and provide them with housing assistance.
The NHA signed 10 agreements with public and private institutions for the construction of the housing units.
These are with the Habitat for Humanity Philippines, Gawad Kalinga, SM Group of Companies, Banco de Oro Foundation Inc., Diocese of Iligan, Rotary-CDO, San Miguel Corp., Federation of Filipino Chinese Chambers of Commerce and Industry Inc., Xavier University, Berjaya Group of Companies, GMA Kapuso Foundation, Shell Philippines, Oro Humanity, Social Action Center- Archdiocese of CDO, Caritas, St. Francis Xavier Church, Philippine Institute of Civil Engineers and Philippine Red Cross.
Binay said the HUDCC, the Department of Social Welfare and Development, the Department of Public Works and Highways and the Department of Environment and Natural Resources were also involved in the project.
“President Aquino has instructed all concerned agencies to use all possible means to address the rehabilitation of Cagayan de Oro and Iligan, and the signing of these 10 memoranda of agreement is government’s concrete action to answer our leader’s call,” Binay said.
Binay said around 8,293 housing units will be constructed in 16 locations in the two cities. Of this, 5,507 will be built in CDO and 2,786 in Iligan.
He lauded private and civic organizations that volunteered to construct the resettlement sites, saying the government cannot provide for all the funding needs.
– Jose Rodel Clapano
“I have always believed that we can achieve much through meaningful partnerships with different stakeholders,” Binay said, adding that such cooperation shows the value of “bayanihan” among Filipinos.