To be ready in six months Disaster-proof village started

CEBU, Philippines - The French community yesterday broke ground for the Habitat French Daanbantayan Village, the first disaster resilient village in Cebu for typhoon victims in Barangay Agujo, Daanbantayan town, worth $500,000.

Don Lee, the chairman of the France-Philippines United Action, said that the project should be finished immediately to encourage more to come. Lee said that the more the project is delayed, the weaker the willingness of others to support it. The project is eyed to be ready in six months.

Lee said that 17 French businesses contributed to help typhoon Yolanda victims, particularly in northern Cebu.

“We want to help families get back on their feet by providing them with an assurance of their future by delivering the peace of mind that comes from a safe and durable home. We are privileged to be working with the architects from the Habitat for Humanity, who has designed disaster relief houses that will withstand the deteriorating climate situation in the Philippines,” Lee said.

Rene Sunico, a representative of La Farge Philippines and a member of FPUA, said they chose Cebu where a lot of French companies are operating.

Cyril Rocke, president of the French Chamber of Commerce in the Philippines, said that more French companies assured their support for the construction of houses for affected families.

In accepting the project, Daanbantayan Mayor Augusto Corro said that the groundbreaking ceremony marked another milestone in making change happen and is another step closer to the dream of building a new Daanbantayan.

“As your mayor, here I am always ready to link arms with you in rebuilding our lives and creating a new Daanbantayan,” he said. He also assured to work hard to make sure the rebuilding of Daanbantayan will be fast and efficient.

The Habitat French Daanbantayan Village is a French village that will showcase disaster resilient housing units, it is a joint partnership project of FPUA, Cebu Province, Daanbantayan town and Habitat for Humanity Philippines.

Cebu Province donated a 5,488-square-meter lot behind the Cebu Technological University in Daanbantayan for the purpose. The entire area shall be developed for 75 housing units, each with an area of 3.5 meters x 6.5 meters.

The house roofing will be triangular in structure to resist earthquakes and the roofing will be made of specially mixed cement to resist typhoons.

Corro said those living in danger zones will be prioritized for the project. One beneficiary, Lito Amistoso, expressed his thanks to Corro’s administration for giving them the relocation site.

Aside from houses, the builders will also put up other facilities and possibly a livelihood project for affected families and beneficiaries of the project.

Habitat for Humanity Philippines chief executive officer Charlie Ayco said they can finish the project in six months as long as the site development will be done immediately by the provincial government. The National Housing Authority and the Department of Public Works and Highways has expressed willingness to fast track the site development. —/BRP (FREEMAN)