Yolanda victims in Tacloban City moving in today

CEBU, Philippines - Three years after super typhoon Yolanda battered Tacloban City and most part of the Visayas regions, around 280 families will finally get to have their permanent resettlement houses today.

Presidential Assistant for the Visayas Michael Lloyd Dino said the massive relocation is in compliance of the directive of President Rodrigo Duterte two weeks ago to ensure that typhoon victims can transfer to their permanent relocation before December.  

Dino said that military trucks from the Philippine Army, Philippine National Police, Office of the Civil Defense, local government units, and private entities will be mobilized to ferry the typhoon victims to their permanent resettlement centers.

"I'm very happy to hear the report from our men and women of the Task Force Bulig that the people are already excited to start a new life in their new homes," Dino said.

In fact, the typhoon victims already visited their new homes in North Hills Arbours relocation site in Barangay Sto. Niño, Tacloban City last Friday to do some clean up.

Task Force Bulig was formed through the Office of the Presidential Assistant for the Visayas after Duterte ordered Dino in front of the Taclobanons to lead the completion of all Yolanda resettlement sites in Leyte and ensure that the families hit by typhoon three years ago can transfer before Christmas.

Dino has acknowledged the collaborative effort among the national government agencies, local government of Tacloban, the Philippine Army's 53rd Engineering Brigade and 8th Infantry Division, Philippine National Police, private sector, and the typhoon victims themselves.

Dino assured the beneficiaries that the resettlement centers are equipped with amenities like water and electricity. The task force has also charted a long-term solution to livelihood, education, transportation, among others.

The task force has expected a daily mobilization of the settlers until the last family beneficiary will be in their new home by Christmas.

"The problem besetting the resettlement effort three years after Yolanda struck Leyte has been solved in just 18 days after President Duterte's tapang and malasakit to the victims made him to issue presidential directives to finish it without delay," Dino said.

The data from the National Housing Administration shows that as of November 22, a total of 14,433 housing units have been bid out. 3,442 units have been substantially completed, while 3,974 units are fully completed.   Around 2,101 units have already been awarded to the beneficiaries.

Dino added that substantially completed housing units are expected to be completed by December this year. (FREEMAN)