IRW giving shelter to Yolanda victims in northern Cebu

CEBU, Philippines - The European-based Islamic Relief Worldwide (IRW) will be providing 270 progressive-core family shelters in Bantayan Island, among the typhoon-devastated areas in northern Cebu.

As part of the emergency response, IRW arrived in the Philippines on November 11, 2013 just after the Yolanda and immediately initiated emergency response operations in northern Cebu and delivered emergency shelter and food assistance to affected communities.

IRW head of mission Syed Shanawaz Ali disclosed that a consortium of various non-government organizations in the United Kingdom called Disaster Emergency Committee was able to raise UK£83 million funds for the project.

This is to be allocated in two phases of which the first phase is the construction of housing units until May this year and the second phase involves the recovery of livelihood in 18 months period.

Aside from shelters, Ali said that IRW will also provide cash assistance to restore livelihood and assets to identified beneficiaries like the women and the elderly.

The beneficiaries will be selected from those registered in the National Household Targeting System, managed by the Department of Social Welfare and Development.

The IRW will be closely working together with the Province of Cebu and the local government units in implementing the project.

The Provincial Board yesterday passed a resolution sponsored by Vice Governor Agnes Magpale authorizing Cebu Governor Hilario Davide III to enter into and sign a memorandum of agreement with the IRW to implement the project.

Ali told reporters that the provincial government already offered to provide transportation for materials to the project site.

Some LGUs in Bantayan Island also provided the relocation site, sanitation facilities and labor.

With this cooperation, Ali looks forward to having more number of shelters to be constructed.

He added that the increase in prices of housing materials and labor may make a significant rise of the cost of each unit originally estimated at P70,000. —FPL (FREEMAN)