22 bunkhouses ready for Yolanda survivors

ORMOC CITY, Philippines — Twenty-two bunkhouses that could accommodate 500 internally displaced persons (IDPs) are now ready for occupancy, after the DPWH-Region 8 turned over the project to the DSWD-8, which in turn passed it to the host city government last January 23.

In this first bunkhouse cluster, also called transition houses, to open in the typhoon Yolanda-devastated Eastern Visayas, each building has 24 room-units, each of which has an area of 2.4-meter x 3.6-meter but with only one light bulb. A family of more than six members will be given two units. 

The 109 large and 262 small families, occupying the bunkhouses will also share the 11 bathrooms/toilets and 10 cooking stations. For every 12 units, two toilets and one bathroom is provided, while for every 48 units, 12 kitchens will be shared.

DSWD-8 assistant regional director Virginia Idano, however noticed the absence of power outlets and lack of ventilation, adding that small size of each room will make it difficult for a family of six members to dwell.

"During hot temperatures, they can't even start an electric fan; they too can't communicate thru cellular phones if there are no access-outlets," she said.

City health officer Nelita Navales, for her part, aired her concern on the lack of toilets in consonance with the expected occupants of the temporary housing. "A standard ratio of 1:20 toilets and 1:50 bathrooms are necessary to avoid spread of diseases and for sanitation purposes," she said.

DPWH's 4th Leyte Engineering District officer-in-charge Lino Francisco Gonzales explained that the project located in Bgy. Concepcion of this city was an undertaking of DPWH Region 4-A, while his office had focused on the implementation of the site's development based on program of works specifications from the higher office.

Mayor Edward Codilla, in his message during the turnover rites, thanked Pres. Noynoy Aquino for the project and vows to make IDPs life in the bunkhouses a lot easier. "Security, water supply and other basic amenities are present," he said.

Being an engineer himself, the mayor ordered the additional construction of concrete footing of the bunkhouses to "avoid floor flooding." 

City Social Welfare Development officer Marietta Legazpi also announced the establishment of a tent office within the area to be manned by personnel of her office, the City Health Office, the City Engineers Office, NGOs and other related agencies to provide assistance to residents.

There are now two clusters of bunkhouses in this city, one in Bgy. Concepcion and another in Bgy. Can-untog where construction is still going on as of today.  (FREEMAN)