Tent city for typhoon victims taking shape

CEBU, Philippines - In preparation for the opening of the tent city in the South Road Properties, at least 15 tents have been setup within the 13,000-square meter area provided by the city government for the Philippine Red Cross.

“As of today, 15 tents have already been set up. Office and latrine will be set up on Monday. Weather permitting, the Family Rebuilding Center will be ready for occupancy by Friday next week,” SRP Management Office head Roberto “Bu” Varquez said yesterday.

The PRC Cebu Chapter said the utilities have also yet to be set up jointly overseen by their agency and the city government.

Varquez earlier said VECO will be tapped for electricity while the Philippine Water Resource Inc. will handle the water supply.

Brand new tents for the Family Rebuilding Center by PRC were provided by German Red Cross.

The tent city eyes a total of 150 beneficiary families, each to have a tent of their own for temporary shelter.

It initially aims to open the first batch of 50 tents followed by two other phases, still with 50 families in each tent.

Both government and the PRC are in the process of identifying the recipient transients mostly from Leyte and Samar provinces that were badly hit by super typhoon Yolanda.

PRC said they are prioritizing those staying in evacuation centers provided by the government.

According to Cebu City Department of Social Welfare Services chief Ester Concha, a total of 320 individuals are still staying in four evacuation centers in barangays Guadalupe, Cogon-Ramos, Tinago and Capitol Site.

Concha said their office has been preparing for the turnover of supervising the evacuation centers from the Department of Social Welfare and Development-7 to the local government unit.

An orientation was also done yesterday with the two government offices.

Naval Forces Central spokesperson Ensign Jaypee Abuan said there were 22 transients from evacuation centers in Cebu who boarded the Navy vessel 551 going back to Tacloban.

The vessel also brought 400 tons of relief goods, two medical vans and one communication van from the Navy intended for the continuing relief operations in typhoon-battered areas in Leyte and Samar. –(FREEMAN)