After a long wait, victims of Typhoon Ondoy whose houses were washed away during flash floods here in 2009 finally received their individual government-funded shelters on Wednesday.
The housing units, totaling 60, were built through the Core Shelter Program of the Department of Social Welfare and Development with the city government of Dumaguete providing for the lot at the outskirts village of Bajumpandan.
Mayor Manuel Sagarbarria, Vice Mayor Alan Gel Cordova and other government officials were on hand to witness the turnover of the housing units to the beneficiaries during a simple blessing and inauguration ceremony in Bajumpandan.
Funding for the construction of the houses was provided by the national government through the DSWD while as its counterpart, the local government unit of Dumaguete had donated the lot.
Also present during the activity was Sheba Dabon, the Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council focal person of the DSWD-Region 7.
Dabon expressed relief that after a long wait, victims of Typhoon Ondoy have finally acquired a house of their own.
She said DSWD’s role is to simply facilitate the allocation and release of funds for the housing project while the local government unit is mandated to provide as counterpart a lot for the project site.
Each house costs P70,000 under the Core Shelter Housing Project, with the design, as approved by the DSWD, guaranteed to withstand a storm.
Dabon appealed to the beneficiaries to be extra careful because while the structure of each housing unit is basically made of concrete, the roofing is of indigenous materials that would easily catch fire.
Meanwhile, Dumaguete Mayor Manuel Sagarbarria apologized to the beneficiaries for the delay of the project due to other requirements, such as supply of electricity and water.
In fact, the city government has asked utility firms to allow them a staggered basis in the installation of water and electricity connections as not all beneficiaries can afford to pay the one-time fee.
Mayor Sagarbarria also expressed hope that the city government and the DSWD can soon embark on a similar housing project, this time, for families whose houses were totally or partially damaged by floods spurred by tropical storm Sendong last December.
Present during the turnover ceremony were Councilors Jose Kenneth Arbas, JJ Esmena, Dan Leon, Tony Remollo, Nilo Sayson and JB Imbo. (PNA/Judy F. Partlow and Maricar Aranas)
