TACLOBAN CITY – About 400 housing units, all typhoon-resilient, are to be constructed in the northern part of this city by the SM Foundation. The two-hectare lot at the New Kawayan was donated to the foundation by the archdiocese of Palo as part of its assistance to storm survivors whose houses were washed out during the onslaught of supertyphoon Yolanda. The housing project of the SM Foundation had its ground-breaking last October 21 attended by top officials of the foundation led by SM Supermall president Annie Garcia and Archbishop John Du. City officials led by city administrator Jenny Manibay and city housing officer Maria Lagman were also present.

The beneficiaries of the housing project, dubbed as SM Cares Village, has yet to be selected but sources said that the priority are those from Barangay 88 of San Jose District, considered as worst-hit area in Tacloban due to Yolanda. The 400 housing units are expected to be finished in six to eight months, Garcia said. Close to a year after Tacloban was pummeled by Yolanda, there are still over 1,000 families living in bunk houses and over 500 families living in tents. Archbishop Du said that the two-hectare lot was donated by the archdiocese to the SM Foundation as part of its assistance to the government’s rehabilitation effort for the families who totally lost their houses during the killer typhoon which is to mark its first year anniversary this November 8. “Today in this parcel of land, a new home is born for many families,” he said.

He also emphasized that the soon to be built permanent houses will not only be buildings, but a community of love as he called it. “What we will soon start to build in this place are not only houses, but home. Because a home is what comprises a community,” the archbishop added. Garcia said that their foundation would work with the city government as to the beneficiaries of their project. “We are going to be working with the local government and also the other organizations in identifying who will be given these houses,” Garcia pointed out. (CARLENE MADGE MORANTTE, LNU Intern)

PALO, Leyte- Leyte Governor Leopoldo Dominico Petilla named Edwin Faller as the new provincial president of the Association of Barangay Chairmen in the province, replacing his cousin Margarita Cari who recently died due to a lingering illness. Petilla sworn in Faller, who is from Hilongos, last October 23 and is to sit as ex officio member of the provincial board, representing the provincial association of barangay chairmen. Vice Governor Carlo Loreto and board members Gina Merillo, Mimietta Bagulaya and Alan Ang, provincial director Antonio Caneja of the Department of Interior and Local Government and 29 barangay chairmen of the province also witnessed the simple swearing in ceremony. Faller said that he has a “large shoe” to fill in considering Cari’s commendable performance as president of the ABC for Leyte. The newly-minted board member, however, said that he would do his best to carry out his duty. “I know it will not be easy because with the position, I am serving my own 2,000 barangay constituents, at the same time as ABC president of Hilongos. I am serving 52 barangays and as an ABC chapter president I will be serving 42 municipalities” said Faller. Nolie Cana of Julita town was named as the new vice president of the association. (LIZBETH ANN A. ABELLA)

TACLOBAN CITY- The Urban Poor Associates (UPA) together with 500 Yolanda survivors held the first gathering of 14 Homeowners’ Associations on October 25, Saturday, 7:30 AM -12 Noon at the Gymnasium of Leyte Normal University, this city.

The activity was in partnership with United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR). The gathering of homeowner’s association is part of a vision of building resilient and empowered communities in Tacloban. Formation of association will strengthen and unite Yolanda survivors to ensure that all their concerns will be addressed — land, permanent and temporary houses, jobs, health, administrations of the work, and participation in major decision making. The Homeowners’ Associations in Yolanda-affected areas were formally recognized by the Housing and Land Use Regulatory Board (HLURB). A lecture on the Magna Carta for Homeowner’s Association (RA 9904) and framework on the importance of registration with HLURB were applauded by the people.

Editha Monredondo, president of Happy Homes HOA from Barangay 56-A, Magallanes said, “In the past, our neighborhood seems oblivious with one another so, we do things on our own. There was no cooperation. Our area stinks with dirt, but when UPA organized us we learned the value of camaraderie, of working together, to improve our condition. UPA encouraged us to do small things together like cleaning our place, talking to our neighbors and helping one another in time of need.”

“We suddenly realized that we are developing a much better community. UPA then asked us to form an association and elect leaders. We started to make programs for everybody – planting vegetables for household consumption and negotiating with the local government to allow us repair our tents into a decent temporary housing, where we can sleep soundly at night. Now, with our association we are aspiring for more, and that is to have a safe, decent and permanent housing,” Monredondo added.

Marlon Maraya, president of Buranday HOA said, “We feel so lucky to be recognized by the city government. This will make our works in the community easier because we can tell that we are a legitimate group. We can now also assert with the national and local government to issue a resolution that will allow us to do repairs of our tents in our own barangay. We in Barangay 56, also feel secure that the government will not just drive us away from our place which was declared ‘No build Zone’ without consultation and decent relocation.”

The group also integrated a legislative action supporting the Urban Development and Housing (UDHA) Act Amendments. UDHA law paved the way to allow Yolanda survivors to acquire transitional housings and shelter rehabilitation in the declared “No Build Zone” area. Yolanda survivors submitted a petition in support of the pending measures amending UDHA law [SB 1874/ HB 2791] to further protect their shelter rights. At the end of the program, the 14 Homeowner’s Associations representatives from Barangay Magallanes and San Jose District placed ribbons with hand-written messages on a colorful kite. This is a symbolic action on the quest of Yolanda Survivors for decent and safe housing.

In parting, Celia Santos, UPA UDHA advocacy officer and Tacloban project coordinator, said, “This is our commitment of giving life and claiming what is human and land rights. Forming an association particularly in poor Yolanda-affected areas give collective measures to empower the people to push for their shelter rights.” “This occasion will also serve as a reminder to everyone and the government that Yolanda survivors must be capacitated so that when all the international help is over, Yolanda Survivors can stand on its feet with high spirits. Through building associations Yolanda survivors is guaranteed that they will be served with integrity and that their needs will be given a priority,” Santos concluded. (PR)

PALO, Leyte- Thirty-five residents from the villages of San Fernando, Baras, and Candahug, all in this city, availed of the cash –for- work program spearheaded by the Department of Tourism (DOT-8). The beneficiaries cleaned the McArthur National Shrine and Park from September 29 to October 4 and October 15 to 18 respectively or before it was used for the 70th Leyte Gulf Landings last October 20. According to Joana De la Cruz, TDA manager of North East Leyte, the residents were divided into five groups with six laborers and a coordinator.

The 30 laborers received P3, 400 representing their 10 days of work while P5, 000 were given to the coordinators. “P260 per day and P80 meal allowance was given to the workers while P500 for the five coordinators,” De la Cruz said. “Coordinators were given bigger amount than the laborers because they are the ones who monitor the program’s standing, the attendance of the workers and served as the eyes of the DOT,” she added. For the first six days, each received P2, 040 and for the four days P1, 360. The coordinators on the other hand received P3, 000 and for the four days, P2, 000. The local government unit of Palo selected the beneficiaries. (LOVELY HAZEL M. VALDE, LNU Intern)

TACLOBAN CITY – Minor girls from the region had become more sexually active. This was indicated on the latest report conducted by the Philippine Statistics Authority (PSA). Based on the PSA report, as contained under the 2013 National Demographic and Health Survey (NDHS), girls in the region had experienced sexual intercourse even reaching the age of 15. In a forum, Sheryl Ann Jamisola, PSA Statistician, said that Region 8 placed second with the highest incidence of girls 15 years engaging in sexual act at 4.0 percentage. Region VI or Western Visayas had 5.0 percentage. The result of the survey, conducted from August 12 to October 16, 2013, showed that Region 8 rose up from 2.7 percent during the 2008 survey. The national average is 2.2 percent. Moreover, the survey also revealed that early pregnancy and motherhood varies by education, wealth quintile, and region. It is more common among young women with less education than among those with higher education as well as of those who are classified as belonging to poor households than in wealthier households. The 2013 NDHS is a nationally representative survey of almost 16,000 households and 19,000 women age 15-49 designed to provide information on fertility, family planning and health in the country. (MA. JANE CYRES C.CAING, LNU Intern)

Last October 28, 2014, marked the very successful 47th St. Jude Thaddeus Parish Fiesta Celebration in PHHC, in Tacloban City, with no less than the Bishop of Naval, Most Rev. Rev. FILOMENO BACTOL, D.D. officiating the Pontifical Mass Celebration. Hermanos Mayores for this Year of the Laity were Leyte Samar Daily Express publisher, DALMACIO “Massey” GRAFIL and ALMA MONTALLANA GRAFIL together with their children Dr. ADALINE, AILEEN and son, ZOUK THADDEUS, and DANDEE & wife AIMEE, son GAVIN AMADEUS. Newly installed parish priest of St. Jude Thaddeus Parish is the very talented Rev. Fr. RAYMUND CIPRIAN MAZO, vacated by Msgr. WILFREDO ALEJAN. 9 Days Novena were officiated by Fr. RAYMUND MAZO, Fr. CARLOS RODRIGUEZ, Fr. EDGAR MONGE, Fr. REX RAMIREZ, Msgr. WILFREDO ALEJAN, Fr. AMADEO ALVERO, Fr. CLYDE AÑOVER, and the Vigil Mass officiated by Msgr. ALEX OPINIANO. The Vigil mass was con-celebrated by 25 priests and the Pontifical Mass by 34 priests. Lots of PHHC parishioners and guests attended the joyful celebration. Officers of the St. Jude Thaddeus Parish Council are: Rev. Fr. RAYMUND CIPRIAN MAZO-Chairman; Engr. REYNALDO GALAPON-Vice-Chairman; Miss CORA GO-Secretary; Mrs. FE NAPOLES- Treasurer; Mrs. PATRIA AGUILOS-Auditor; Mr. DALMACIO GRAFIL – Chairman, Commission on Worship; Atty. ANTONIO REYNA – Chairman, Commission on Education; Mr. RODOLFO SABARRE – Chairman, Commission on Social Services; Mrs. GRACE ADLAWAN – Chairman, Commission on Temporalities; Mr. GREGORY GIL DIAZ – Chairman, Commission on Youth; Engr. CRESCENCIO GONZALES – BEC Representative; Mr. RAUL ASENSI – Barangay Representative. (Photos by Gilbert F. Arteche)