Sendong victims to get new homes within the year—Binay

Vice President Jejomar Binay

MANILA, Philippines—Survivors of Tropical Storm Sendong in Cagayan de Oro  and Iligan cities will have new homes within the year, Vice President Jejomar Binay announced Saturday.

Binay said he has already tasked the National Housing Authority to immediately relocate and resettle the affected families and provide them with housing assistance.

The agency signed 10 agreements with public and private institutions, housing funders and contractor for the development of the sites and construction of the housing units, he added in a statement.

“President Aquino has instructed all concerned agencies to use all possible means to address the rehabilitation of Cagayan de Oro and Iligan, and the signing of these 10 memoranda of agreement is government’s concrete action to answer to our leader’s call,” Binay said during the MOA signing at the Coconut Palace.

Around 8,293 housing units will be constructed in 16 project locations in the two cities. Of this, 5,507 will be built in Cagayan de Oro and 2,786 in Iligan.

The vice president lauded the private and civic organizations that have volunteered to construct resettlement sites in the affected cities as he admitted that the government alone cannot finance the housing projects.

“I have always believed that we can achieve much through meaningful partnerships with different stakeholders,” he said, adding that such cooperation shows the value of “bayanihan” among Filipinos.

“The CDO-Iligan rehabilitation will be a good testing ground for our ability to implement multi-sectoral partnerships. Our success in this venture will mean a lot in promoting this administration’s inclusive approach at governance,” he added.

In Cagayan de Oro, housing units will be constructed in Cagayan de Oro Relocation Site Housing Project Phase II, II-B and III; Indahag Relocation Site Phase I and II; LGU-BERJAYA-GK Village; Canitoan Relocation Site; Xavier Village; NASSA and SAC Caritas Village; Calaanan Relocation Site; and Paglaum Village.

In Iligan the housing units will be put up in Bayanihan sa Iligan Village, Kapuso Village, Diklaan Resettlement Site, and Diocese of Iligan Village I and 2.

Binay said the NHA entered into MOA with the Habitat for Humanity Philippines, Gawad Kalinga, SM Group of Companies, Banco de Oro Foundation Inc., Diocese of Iligan, Rotary-CDO, San Miguel Corporation, Federation of Filipino Chinese Chambers of Commerce and Industry, Inc., Xavier University, Berjaya Group of Companies, GMA Kapuso Foundation, Shell Philippines, Oro Humanity, Social Action Center- Archdiocese of CDO,  Caritas, St. Francis Xavier Church, Philippine Institute of Civil Engineers and Philippine Red Cross.

Also involved are the Housing and Urban Development Coordinating Council, Department of Social Welfare and Development, Department of Public Works and Highways, and Department of Environment and Natural Resources.