No Aquino, no houses in Davao town

WORKERS rush to finish the new houses for survivors of Typhoon “Pablo,” which Mr. Aquino was supposed to turn over to the beneficiaries in rites that had to be aborted because the President did not arrive. NICO ALCONABA/INQUIRER MINDANAO

CATEEL, Davao Oriental—While dozens of houses had been finished for survivors of Typhoon “Pablo” in this province, something is still missing that’s keeping authorities from turning the houses over to beneficiaries—President Aquino’s presence.

Beneficiaries, people who lost homes when Pablo struck last year, had been expecting to move in to the houses. The province’s governor had ordered some of the units painted yellow in anticipation of Mr. Aquino’s arrival.

The President, however, did not come.

“It is painful for us that the turnover [ceremony] was canceled just because one person, the President, is not here,” said Lelina Lucena, a survivor.

Lucena and dozens of other beneficiaries had to wait for hours for Mr. Aquino’s arrival, only to be told he was not coming. They would also not be moving into the new houses.

Gov. Corazon Malanyaon confirmed the turnover of the brightly colored houses built under the rehabilitation program for Pablo survivors was postponed because Mr. Aquino did not make it to this town.

But the turnover will push through soon and the victims can finally move in, Malanyaon said.

Waiting game

Lucena said they did not mind waiting but what she could not understand was why the people would not be allowed to move in to the units without the President’s presence.

“We are dismayed,” Lucena said. “They should have allowed us to transfer already. Anyway the President can visit us anytime,” she said.

“If they want to prioritize the interests of the residents, the government should immediately allow us to transfer to the new houses,” said Normelina Masumbid, another Pablo survivor.

Lucena, who shares a hut with five other relatives, said that as much as they wanted to move in already, they could do nothing but wait.

That would be once Mr. Aquino visits, according to Malanyaon.

The Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) said at least 254 houses had been finished or were in the final stages of construction in the Poblacion area.

“Getting a new, permanent house is vital in our efforts to rebuild our lives,” Masumbid said.

In Barangay Kinablangan in Baganga town, Pablo survivors staying in DSWD bunkhouses are as anxious to move in.

“Every time it rains, the bunkhouses are submerged in ankle-deep floodwaters,” said a resident, who refused to be identified.

More houses

The resident said people had to stand for hours until the floods subsided.

“We want to relocate but the government has not yet informed us about it. A year [has passed] and we still do not know what will happen to us,” the resident said.

The DSWD said Pablo survivors need to be patient. In the entire province, the agency said 694 permanent shelters had been constructed and more were being put up.

Local and international organizations said they were also helping to build permanent shelters for Pablo victims in the province.

Balay Mindanaw said it bought a 4.5-hectare property at the top of a hill in Barangay Ban-ao in Baganga town, where at least 32 houses, each worth P110,000, were being built. Karlos Manlupig, Inquirer Mindanao