Post-Yolanda woes: Shelter kits costlier due to ‘overpricing’

CEBU, Philippines - Donors now need to spend more to build one shelter kit for super typhoon Yolanda survivors because of higher prices of materials.

They said suppliers have jacked up prices of construction materials, and urged the Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) and the local government units (LGUs) to look into the matter.

This was raised by Engr. Ebrahim Bango, Global Aid Trust project supervisor, during the fourth coordination meeting in Daanbantayan, Cebu called by Mayor Augusto Corro.

Under its House Rebuild Project, Global Aid Trust, in partnership with Islamic Da'wah Council of the Philippines, is  rebuilding houses in Barangay Bitoon, Daanbantayan.

Bango said that as of December 16, 2013, each unit would cost them P65,000; but the amount has now risen by around 20 percent following the increase in prices of construction materials.

For instance, Bango said, they used to buy a piece of hollow block for P10 each; now, it is priced at P13 to P15.

He appealed for DTI and the LGUs to look into the situation as it is affecting efforts to rebuild the communities ravaged by super typhoon Yolanda last Nov. 8.

For his part, Corro assured that the matter would be looked into as far as suppliers in Daanbantayan are concerned.

Two weeks after the typhoon, Corro had warned establishments not to increase prices of basic commodities and housing materials.

Vice Mayor Gilbert Arrabis Jr. said that they have done their part on the side of the LGU.

A representative of non-profit organization Oxfam also reported about the increase in the cost of labor from P300 to P500 a day, adding that there is a scarcity of workers to be hired to work on its project.

Some officials of northern Cebu LGUs whom The FREEMAN approached said they also observed what Bango reported, especially on the prices of oil.

"Wala mi naabti sa mahal nga presyo kay nag-order mi daan (We are not affected by the higher prices because we have stocks yet, after ordering) last December pa," said Bogo City Treasurer Julio Ursonal.

Bogo City Planning and Development Officer Carlo Fernando Logarta said the scarcity of supplies caused the prices of oil to increase.

"Medyo mahal na (A bit expensive now). City (Cebu) direct among komprada," said Engr. Romy Cabellon, municipal planning and development coordinator of San Remigio, Cebu.

Engr. Romeo Villaceran, a contractor whose poultry farm in Bantayan Island was destroyed by the typhoon, confirmed the lack of supplies.

He said, though, that DTI personnel are monitoring the prices in their place.

"Ang uban wala jud nagpataas sa presyo pero naay uban mopataas jud tan-aw nila kusog ang demand pataas pud presyo ang uban labi na jud ang (There are those who did not increase prices, but others did when they saw that there was a big demand, especially for) good lumber ug (and) coco lumber," Villaceran said.

Governor Hilario Davide III earlier appealed for businessmen to heed the DTI price freeze order in areas affected by Yolanda.

The DTI reported that 24 retailers have been served notice for violating the price freeze imposed in Central Visayas, including the calamity stricken areas of Bantayan Island.

DTI Cebu Provincial Director Nelia Navarro earlier said they found retailers violating the price freeze during their monitoring of 51 establishments, which covered 40 retailers and 11 hardware stores, in the three towns of Bantayan Island days after the typhoon.

The price freeze, however, covers only basic goods and does not include construction materials.

Under the Price Act, basic necessities assigned to the DTI include canned fish and other marine products, processed milk, coffee, laundry soap, detergents, candles, bread, salt.

Other basic necessities assigned to the Department of Agriculture for monitoring are rice, corn, cooking oil, fresh eggs, fresh pork/ beef and poultry meat, fresh milk, fresh vegetables, root crops, sugar, fresh/ dried and other marine products.

The Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR), on the other hand, is responsible for firewood and charcoal; and, the Department of Health (DOH) for drugs it classified as "essential."-/RHM (FREEMAN)