San Miguel Corp. to turn over new houses for 'Yolanda' survivors in Leyte

SAN MIGUEL, Oct. 10 (PNA) -- The local government here and its corporate partner, San Miguel Corporation (SMC) will turn over housing units this month to residents of the town that are living in danger zone.

The turn over was originally scheduled on Sept. 28 in time with the town fiesta, but it was moved to this month considering the availability of top SMC officials, said Mayor Cheeryl Enrica Esperas.

The company pledged to build 100 houses, but due to limited land area, the developer only completed 98 houses. Of the number, more than half are already completed.

Habitat for Humanity supervise the construction of the houses at the Cayare Hills Subdivision in Cayare village, near the town center.

“Hopefully, we can turn over the houses this month or at least before the third anniversary commemoration of super typhoon Yolanda,” Esperas said.

The donor, Habitat for Humanity and the social welfare officer from the provincial government pre-identified the beneficiaries. Recipients include indigent families and those living in flood-prone and danger zones.

Esperas said the local government and the donor, in consultation with potential homeowners, drafted a policy and guidelines that beneficiaries need to follow in order to preserve the dignity of the community.

These includes banning the wearing of sexy or revealing clothes, smoking, drinking in public places and bringing livestock animals within the housing project compound.

Beneficiaries of the housing projects will also undergo livelihood training programs, values formation and training for responsible parenthood.

“Once they received the houses, it does not mean that we will already stop helping rather it is just the beginning of the programs that the local government and its partner the San Miguel Corporation and Habitat for Humanity,” she added. (PNA)

JMC/SQM/ROEL T. AMAZONA/EGR