SM Foundation completes housing project for ‘Yolanda’ survivors

ORMOC CITY, Nov. 3 (PNA)-- SM Foundation, Inc. and donors completed the construction of 200 housing units for families hit badly by super typhoon Yolanda three years ago.

The site is the last of the four housing projects built by the corporate social responsibility arm of SM Prime Holdings, Inc. (SMPH) for survivors of the country’s strongest storm, bringing the total to 1,000 units.

SM Foundation launched the SM Cares Village housing project after the onslaught of super typhoon Yolanda on Nov. 8, 2013. For the Ormoc site, SM held a groundbreaking in March 2015.

SMPH senior vice president Marissa Fernan said the project is privately-funded with donations from SM, business partners, tenants, suppliers, and employees.

The Ormoc village was built in partnership with the family of former Mayor Edward Codilla and the Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Palo.

The donor awarded the 200 houses to selected beneficiaries on Thursday, giving priority to persons with disabilities and senior citizens.

The site has amenities such as street lamps, sewage treatment plant, materials, recovery facility, rain catchment system and provisions for water and electricity.

“This is a testament to the solidarity that Filipinos and people all over the world have shown to help the survivors of super typhoon Yolanda,” Fernan said.

The post-Yolanda housing project of SMPH is now completed in four sites – Bogo, Cebu (200 units), Iloilo (200 units), and Tacloban (400 units).

Archbishop John F. Du takes pride of the project, saying that people can finally settle themselves in their permanent houses. The Catholic Church, through its social action center, will be responsible in the values formation of residents. (PNA)

FPV/SQM/LIZBETH ANN A. ABELLA/EGR