Northern Cebu gets help from cement firm

CEBU CITY—A cement manufacturing firm will undertake rehabilitation projects in three towns and one city in northern Cebu that are still reeling from the devastation caused by Super Typhoon “Yolanda.”

Cemex Philippines will build housing units in Bogo City and Daanbantayan town and a community center and underwater sculptures in San Remegio town.

The firm will also provide a boat called “bancambulansya” (boat ambulance) that will ferry patients in Daanbantayan town and repair eight classrooms in Medellin town.

The projects are part of Cemex’s “Build Unity,” a program aimed to rebuild the communities in northern Cebu affected by Yolanda.

The program is in partnership with different local governments, government agencies and nongovernment organizations.

Build Unity is under Cemex Philippines Foundation’s umbrella corporate social responsibility (CSR) program called Build the Nation Together.

It is specifically crafted for Cemex’s reconstruction and restoration initiatives to help the calamity victims who lost their homes and livelihood.

Chito Maniago, Cemex Philippines director for corporate communications and public affairs, said the project would carry out a “holistic, strategic and synergized community rebuilding program.”

A total of P25 million donated by various Cemex branches worldwide will fund the program.

Cemex Philippines tapped Task Force Paglig-on of the provincial government for the project.

On March 4, Cemex Philippines signed a memorandum of agreement with the city government of Bogo and Daanbantayan municipal government for the construction of 88 housing units in cooperation with Gawad Kalinga (GK).

At least 7,000 families in both Bogo and Daanbantayan were displaced by Yolanda.

Cemex Philippines is also partnering with the Department of Education (DepEd)-Cebu Division for the rehabilitation of Kawit National High School in Medellin.

Kawit National High School Principal Reynaldo dela Rama said eight classrooms were in need of repair after Yolanda’s strong winds ripped off the roofs and ceilings of the classrooms.

The repair would cost P800,000, said Dela Rama.

Cemex Philippines also signed an agreement with the three villages,

one Goal (3V1G), a Cebu-based NGO, to build a community center in San Remegio.

Once the community center is built, a masonry skills training will be conducted with the help of the Technical Education and Skills Development Authority (Tesda).

Cemex Phils. will also work with 3V1G in providing a boat ambulance to be used by residents of Carnaza and Malapascua Island in Daanbantayan town as well as those living in the neighboring island of Gibitngil

Island in Medellin town and Batbatan Island in Bantayan town.

The 3V1G and Cemex will also conduct training on first-aid and disaster response.

Aside from this, Cemex and 3V1G will also install underwater cement and driftwood sculptures in various coastal towns that would serve as marine habitat as well as boost the areas’ ecotourism.

“We are committed to the province, and to the cities. You can count on us. This is not just an act of today but we are moving forward,” said Paul Arcenas, Cemex Philippines vice president for strategic planning.