Housing project turned over to beneficiaries in Dumaguete

DUMAGUETE CITY , Philippines  – After a long wait, victims of typhoon Ondoy whose houses were washed away during flashfloods in 2009 in Dumaguete finally received their respective government-funded houses on Wednesday.

A total of 60 housing units were built through the Core Shelter Program of the DSWD with the city government providing for the lot at the outskirts village of Bajumpandan. Funding for the construction of the houses was provided by the national government through the DSWD.

Mayor Manuel Sagarbarria, Vice Mayor Alan Gel Cordova and other government officials witnessed the turnover of the houses to the beneficiaries during the blessing and inauguration ceremony.

Councilors Jose Kenneth Arbas, JJ Esmena, Dan Leon, Tony Remollo, Nilo Sayson and JB Imbo were also present, together with Sheba Dabon, the Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council focal person of the DSWD-7.

Dabon expressed relief that after a long wait, victims of typhoon Ondoy have finally acquired a house of their own. She said DSWD’s role was to facilitate the allocation and release of funds for the project.

Each house costs P70,000 and the design, as approved by the DSWD, was guaranteed to withstand a storm.

Sagarbarria said the city government has asked utility firms to allow the beneficiaries to pay on staggered basis the installation of water and electricity connections because not all of them can afford to pay the one-time fee.

The mayor also hoped that the city government and the DSWD can soon embark on a similar housing project, this time, for families whose houses were totally or partially damaged by floods spurred by tropical Sendong last December. Judy Flores Partlow with Maricar Aranas (FREEMAN)