55 Samar families get new houses from UNDP

BASEY, Samar, March 20 (PNA) - The United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) turned over on Monday a housing project to victims of super typhoon Yolanda in this coastal town.

The permanent housing units located in New San Agustin village will benefit 55 families living near a riverbank in Palaypay village. The project was pushed through with funding support from the Korean International Cooperation Agency.

UNDP Philippines Country Director Titon Mitra said that each house, with a floor area of 35 square meters, are resistant to strong winds and earthquakes.

“If you will see the design and the materials used, this is really a wonderful building,” Mitra said. “Knowing what you have gone through and I can see that this is where you will be living, I gives me great pleasure and happiness.” 

Mitra also thanked KOICA for the financial support and the community members who volunteered to build the houses. 

Aside from permanent shelter, the UNDP and KOICA also funded the construction of an evacuation center in Canmanila village. The center can accommodate 250 individuals during emergencies. 

“The LGU cannot afford to finance construction of these kinds of projects because of budget constraints,” said Mayor Igmedio Ponferrada. 

Ponferrada recalled that after the monster typhoon, the biggest problem faced by the local government was the relocation of the hundreds of families living in coastal communities.

On Nov. 8, 2013, Basey was one of the places heavily devastated by super typhoon Yolanda, leaving more than 200 people dead.(PNA)
BS/SQM/ROEL T. AMAZONA/EGR