To Monday this time, Tent city opening postponed anew

CEBU, Philippines - The opening of the tent city for victims of super typhoon Yolanda has once again been postponed to next week instead of today.

"Our new target is Monday," said South Road Properties Management Office head Roberto "Bu" Varquez.

Varquez yesterday named two factors that contributed to the further delay.

"First major concern is the gravel. Wala pa mahuman og topping. The second one is the physical setup, specifically the communal kitchen," he cited.

Apart from providing the brand new tents from Germany, the Philippine Red Cross is tasked to purchase gravel to top the backfilled pathways leveled by limestone soil.

According to Varquez, three truckloads of gravel have already been delivered but the entire site still needs 10 more truckloads to complete topping the rest of the pathways in between tents and amenities of the Family Rehabilitation Center.

PRC sought the help of SRPMO in securing three quotations for gravel contractors.

"Hopefully, today (yesterday) makuha na to nila ang quotation, and then tomorrow (today) ma order na so that ma-deliver and continue ang pagbutang sa graba," Varquez said.

Contractor Albert Lim, who is helping out the tent city by providing construction materials, wanted to change the initial plans of having the communal kitchen, which was supposed to be made from plywood, to be concrete, thereby translating to a longer construction period.

The new kitchen design was made yesterday and the start of construction is set today, he said.

Further, petroleum company Petron has pledged to provide free LPG tanks for the communal kitchen.

Utilities installation is ongoing with Philippine Spring Water Resource Inc. for the water supply and Visayan Electric Cooperative for the power supply.

Three electric posts have been delivered and will be erected today and installation is expected to be finished by Saturday, Varquez said.

Also, at least four floodlights will be installed to light the temporary community in lieu of individual tent lights.  — (FREEMAN)