Nine months after Yolanda north rehab is 35 percent done

CEBU, Philippines- The Capitol rehabilitation team disclosed that housing project for typhoon-ravaged areas in northern Cebu is still 35 percent complete, nine months after  super typhoon Yolanda wreaked havoc in the area.

Baltazar Tribunalo Jr., head of the Task Force Paglig-on, a team mandated by the Capitol to monitor rehabilitation effort in northern Cebu, said reconstruction is ongoing with the help of some private sectors.

With President Benigno Aquino III's approval of the P12 billion rehabilitation for Cebu, Tribunalo said the province will closely coordinate with the regional offices for the download of the fund to different local government units.

Of the approved amount, over P6 billion is needed for the shelter and relocation of typhoon victims. The amount covers the site development, water sanitation and hygiene facilities, and costs of shelter, acquisition and power.

Yolanda's onslaught also left 103,831 houses mildly and severely damaged in this part of the province.

Tribunalo said identification of resettlement sites is also ongoing. It has been reported that one of the prevailing problems in relocating families is the acquisition of land to be used for relocation sites since most are covered only with tax declarations.

Land titles, rather than tax declarations, are considered in purchasing relocation sites, as required by the Commission on Audit. The province sought national government's intervention to address the legal concern.

Tribunalo further reported that a total of 100 houses in San Remigio town have already been completed, which were sponsored by the Congregation of the Immaculate Heart of Mary. At least 48 of which are built onsite in Barangay Sab-a and 52 are in Barangay Bagtik.

Meanwhile, the Ancajas family has donated to the provincial government 3.5 hectares of land in Kawit, Medellin to be utilized as relocation site for typhoon victims.

The Jose Ancajas Agricultural Corp. represented by Aurora Ancajas Ramos, and Cebu Governor Hilario Davide III, on behalf of the provincial government, signed a deed of donation at the latter's office last Monday.

Tribunalo said around 540 families can occupy the donated parcel of land. Davide said it will then be turned over directly to the barangay officials of Kawit, Medellin.

Priest-turned-barangay captain Oscar Banzon of Kawit said residents of Barangays Gibitngil and Kawit living along shorelines, high risk areas, and hazard zones should be the priority, as directed by the donor. -/FPL) (FREEMAN)