TACLOBAN CITY- In its effort to help survivors of supertyphoon Yolanda in the city still living in tents, the city government is offering them financial assistance in exchange of going back to their original hometowns. This was revealed by Gloria Fabregas, officer-in-charge of the City Social Welfare and Development Office, who said that those who will avail this scheme of the city government stand to receive P10,000 as financial assistance. The scheme asking the families still living in tents after their homes were washed out during the onslaught of Yolanda is being carried out by the city government under its “Balik-Probinsiya” Program.
Fabregas said that the fund needed for this scheme will be source from local funds of the city government. “The purpose of Balik Probinsya Program is to make sure that there will be no more residents living in the tent cities” said Fabregas. “Even though they are in their respective provinces, they will still be included in the permanent housing project”, she added. Those who will avail this scheme, they would be given priority in the housing projects being constructed by the city government in the resettlement sites. There are 1,200 families living in tents in the villages of San Jose, Magallanes and Sagkahan areas who could of this scheme, Hermilo “Boy” Naputo, Jr., head of the Barangay Affairs Office of the city government.
“There are 14,000 to 16,000 expected permanent housing units to be build. It will be constructed in Barangay 101(New Kawayan); Brgy.105 (San Isidro) and Brgy. 106 (Sto. Nino) and are expected to be finished within two years with all facilities including electricity and water will be provided,” Naputo added. (ARCHIE FAYE V.BELCHES, LNU Intern)
