On Cory's 79th birth anniversary, Noy launches shelter program for 'Sendong' victims

ILIGAN CITY, Philippines – President Aquino paid tribute to his late mother, President Corazon Aquino, on her 79th birthday yesterday and called on Filipinos to remember how she summoned people power to combat the problems besetting the nation.

Aquino, who was in Iligan and Cagayan de Oro cities to visit the relocation sites for victims of tropical storm “Sendong,” likened the rebuilding of the city to the period when the country rose in the aftermath of the Marcos dictatorship.

“As part of remembrance to the gift left by my late mother, let us continue to display the spirit of people power in facing the country’s different problems and improving the lives of our fellowmen,” he said.

The President kicked off the month-long anniversary celebration of the first EDSA people power revolution by leading the start of construction of some 300 core shelters for victims of Sendong at a relocation site here.

Aquino also assured the victims and local leaders of support in the rehabilitation of those affected by the tragedy.

A Mass was celebrated at the relocation site in Barangay Sta. Filomena to offer prayers on the 40th day in memory of the victims of the flashfloods of Dec. 17.

Aquino said the ideals that his mother fought for inspired Filipinos to rise from the ruins of the Marcos dictatorship.

And with the reforms being initiated by the present administration, Filipinos were witnessing the transformation of the nation as a new society, he added.

Aquino said he was calling on Iligan City residents to live with his mother’s call to restore democracy.

“Like what we have shown today, let us repeatedly prove to the world the power of unity and regard for others,” he said.

Aquino said he was proud of his Cabinet members who immediately acted to respond to the disaster, particularly by assisting people in need during the Dec. 17 flashfloods.

The building of new homes for the survivors would not be possible without the dedication of all the government agencies, as well as the local governments that gave their all-out effort, he added.

Presidential spokesman Edwin Lacierda said Aquino was committed to a rehabilitation process that will help the victims get back on their feet as soon as possible while ensuring that the assistance to local governments will reach those who need it the most.

“He also believes that communities should be rebuilt in areas out of harm’s way,” he said.

Aquino led yesterday the building of shelters for Sendong victims at the 15.9-hectare relocation site in Barangay Sta. Elena.

He also went to the relocation site in Barangay Canito-an in Cagayan de Oro City and inspected another one in Barangay Lumbia donated by Xavier University.

San Miguel Corp. president and chief operating officer Ramon Ang turned over P500 million to Iligan City Mayor Lawrence Cruz for 2,500 houses to be built in the relocation site, along with the 1,700 to be constructed by the National Housing Authority (NHA) and 200 by the Kapuso Foundation.

Aquino said the NHA would also build more than 2,000 houses in Cagayan de Oro City by June to resettle those who were in danger areas.

Cruz said 1,270 people died in the disaster, while 5,683 houses were completely destroyed.

Another 16,959 were partially damaged, he added.

Cruz said some 7,500 families were affected in 32 cities, while 1,697 remain in evacuation centers.

The damage to properties was pegged at P3.5 billion, he added.

Social Welfare and Development Secretary Corazon Soliman said the houses would cost P110,000 each – P70,000 of which would come from the Core Shelter Assistance Project and P40,000 from the NHA.

Gawad Kalinga and the private sector would be the government’s partners in carrying out the project here, she added.

Soliman said Habitat for Humanity Philippines would be the partner in the Barangay Canito-an project in Cagayan de Oro City.

The United Nations was also helping the government provide for the evacuees in tent cities serving as their temporary homes, she added.

Actress KC Concepcion, ambassador of the UN World Food Program, was present during the event.

Soliman said schools would be built in the new communities for the people to be resettled and provide them with livelihood opportunities.

Soliman was with Aquino and Vice President Jejomar Binay and other Cabinet members.

In his speech, Aquino said he was thankful for the bayanihan spirit being shown to help the Sendong victims start over.

Non-government organizations, the private sector and international agencies had been assisting the government in ensuring their welfare, he added.

Aquino said more than P300 million had been allotted for the project.

A total of 5,200 families would have to be relocated to safer areas, he added.

The Mines and Geosciences Bureau had certified that the relocation sites were safe, he said.

Aquino said the people could trust that the government would serve them and immediately repair bridges, water systems and schools.

“My only appeal to you: Please do not be hard headed,” he said.

“Let us no longer (wait) for Mother Earth to show her wrath before we act.”

People must follow weather advisories and learn from mistakes of the past, he added.

The projects for the people were being carried out speedily because of the judicious use of government resources as he promised, he said.

In Cagayan de Oro City, Aquino assured residents that all the help would be provided to the victims and that preventive measures and projects would be done to avoid flooding.

Aquino ceremonially painted a demo house and stressed that the government had been addressing the various concerns of the victims, including those who were orphaned.

Binay joined Aquino in painting one of the 300 houses in the 16-hectare Bayanihan Village in Barangay Sta. Elena, Iligan City.

Binay, chairman of the Housing and Urban Development Coordinating Council (HUDCC) and the Board of Trustees of the Pag-IBIG Fund (Home Development Mutual Fund), said the Bayanihan Village will be a permanent resettlement of 2,000 families.

The Bayanihan Village was part of the administration’s shelter build programs in Iligan and Cagayan de Oro.

The DSWD has released P240 million to the housing project.

It is implementing the program along with Gawad Kalinga. – With Jose Rodel Clapano, Lino de la Cruz, Rhodina Villanueva