55 families receive houses

ORMOC CITY, Philippines  — The United Nations Development Programme had chosen 55 families, as beneficiaries of its core-shelter housing project at Barangay Cagbuhangin, from among the homeless or those living in no-build zones in this city.

The housing project was made possible under the Union Core Shelter Component, which was implemented by the UNDP using the European Union’s fund for the Philippines, as aid to the government after typhoon Yolanda.

The so-called “lucky 55” thanked the UNDP but, during a forum, aired their concerns such as property ownership, income at the relocation site, access to education for their children and the risks of living there.

Most of the beneficiaries have been earning incomes from marine-related economic activities, but their relocation site, nine kilometers from the city proper and 600 meters from the highway, is situated in a land-locked area that does not jibe with their usual livelihood.

The UNDP, however, in anticipation of these concerns, presented to the beneficiaries some plans, such as organizing them for long-term livelihood endeavor, by tapping them as labor contractors for the housing project, including warehousing and bookkeeping works.

The officers of this organization of beneficiaries, called as Ormoc Contractors Workers Association, were already trained on the basics of logistics management, construction safety and labor contracting.

The training was facilitated by UNDP project officers Boris Pascubillo, Susan Saballa and Joel Bobis, finance officer Elisa Vistavilla and administrative assistant Rhea Lamorena.  (FREEMAN)