Australia envoy turns over 1,533 homes for Yolanda victims

PALO, Leyte, Philippines – A total of 1,533 typhoon-resistant homes in this town and in Tacloban City were turned over by Ambassador Bill Tweddell of Australia and Gwendolyn Pang, secretary-general of the Philippine Red Cross (PRC), in ceremonies held on Tuesday.

The shelters are part of a P200-million donation of the Australian government for the construction of emergency and transitional shelters for victims of Super Typhoon Yolanda. The Australian government has released P3 billion in humanitarian assistance for Yolanda victims.

In his speech, Tweddell gave assurance that Australia would always support the Philippines during calamities.

The Catholic Relief Services, Gawad Kalinga and the PRC in coordination with the Palo and Tacloban City local governments and host villages constructed the houses.

Pang said the PRC and its partners have so far built 60,257 homes for Yolanda survivors.