Still smiling, Still standing

MANILA, Philippines - I first met the women members of Pawa Homeowners Association in Panay, Capiz last March, as they were rebuilding their houses under the Post Yolanda Support for Safer Homes and Settlements Project of the UN Habitat Philippines, in partnership with the Social Housing Finance Corp. (SHFC) and other public and private agencies.

Despite the scorching sun and the heavy lumber they were carrying, they still managed bright welcoming smiles. I asked if they could complete construction of the houses on schedule, and they gave me a resounding yes. They said it’s a community project so it will be easier for them to accomplish the huge task.

Three months later, I revisited Pawa. What looked like a ghost town now seems like a beach resort full of fancy cottages. I was welcomed by the women holding not lumber but handcrafted seashell garlands. What hasn’t changed were those welcoming smiles, made even brighter by the fact that they now occupy their own, stronger houses that they themselves built.

Mary Cris dela Cruz, one of the Pawa women, couldn’t contain her emotions as she recounted the hardships the community went through before the realization of their dream homes. The big smile that greeted me turned into tears of joy.

“The whole process was challenging and painful, especially after a long day of construction. But seeing my house getting complete each day, I can truly say that all the pain was worth it,” dela Cruz said.

The Post Yolanda Support for Safer Homes and Settlements Project, with an initial funding of $2.5 million from the people of Japan and supplemented by  P42.7 million from the Department of Social Welfare and Development, adopted a community-driven approach in post-disaster rehabilitation, engaging the 28 communities under the Community Mortgage Program of the SHFC in Capiz and Iloilo to lead the implementation of the project. These communities underwent several trainings, including disaster risk reduction, building back safer homes and financial and construction management.

One of the successful recipients of these trainings was Erllinda Bonsato, who led the canvassing and purchasing of construction materials for Pawa. She is neither an architect nor an engineer but with the help of various agencies, she was able to fulfill her task.

“I never thought that I would ever do that in my entire life. I barely knew about purchasing but now, I think I can share the knowledge and experience that I have with other people,” Bonsato noted.

The turnover of the 660 houses built under the Post Yolanda Support for Safer Homes and Settlements Project was held at the Pawa open grounds last June 26. Hundreds of partner-beneficiaries were in attendance. The place was filled with joyful faces, celebrating their own community’s success.

The event was also attended by the heads of agencies that collaborated in the project, including Housing and Urban Development Coordinating Council Sec. Gen. Cecilia Alba, Capiz Gov. Victor Tanco, UN Habitat country program director Christopher Rollo and SHFC vice president for VisMin Salie Taguian.

Gov. Tanco lauded the efforts of the agencies implementing the project for their support to Yolanda-stricken communities in the province. The governor noted that through the project, a lot of lives have been dramatically transformed and has created empowered communities.

More than a year after it was launched, the Post Yolanda Support for Safer Homes and Settlements Project is now reaping the fruits of success from the communities it has assisted. Aside from the 660 core shelters, the project enabled the construction of 54 infrastructure projects including community multi-purpose halls. Carpenters and local artisans were also trained on how to construct disaster-resilient houses, benefitting 4,594 households.

“We have seen you transformed from hopeless Yolanda victims into empowered, confident, and disaster-resilient communities. Our only wish is that you continue your journey as a transformed community and share your experiences to others who were also victims of the recent disasters,” Taguian told the communities.

The journey of these communities has just started upon the turnover of their houses. With the rich experience they’ve gained, these communities can now embark on more challenging goals.

The Pawa homeowners’ association is pushing for the approval of their loan in order to finally own their lot. The community is also saving money to elevate the area and to purchase a water pump as part of mitigating measures against flood. An Estate Management training is also underway for the community to effectively maintain their houses and other public facilities.

On the opposite side of Pawa lies the modest community of Belle Village III in Pontevedra, Capiz. The houses of the 174 partner-beneficiaries were turned over in December 2014. The families have already tried and tested the strength of these houses when Typhoon Ruby hit last year.

With their own safer homes, the families have become more confident and motivated to earn a living for the monthly payment of their amortization to the SHFC. Some families have put up sari-sari stores. A vacant space was converted into a communal garden for herbs and vegetables like tomato, eggplant and oregano, among others.

“At present, only community members can benefit from the vegetables and crops in our garden, but we are planning to expand this so that it will also be a source of our income,” one of the residents quipped.

Viviana Beato, on the other hand, plants fruits and vegetables in her backyard. She harvested pineapple and calamansi and sold these in her stall in the community’s newly-opened mini-market. Belle Village III’s location is good place for business because it is surrounded by four towns.

“During the rainy season and when these towns are submerged in floodwaters, they can purchase their basic goods from us because our location is flood-free,” Beato noted.

When sales are good, Beato earns at least P500 per day, a substantial amount to augment the family’s expenses.

The community is now pushing for a more systematized mini-market and want to engage in more livelihood trainings to acquire new skills needed for employment.

The whole experience of the Post Yolanda Support for Safer Homes and Settlements Project has proven that the People’s Process or community-driven rebuilding is an effective way of healing the deep wounds brought about by disasters.

Furthermore, the People’s Process has brought out the best in the residents of the 28 communities under the project. As the project enters its final phase, it continues to inspire and empower other communities similarly situated, through the stories and experiences of those whose lives have risen above the storm.