MANILA, Philippines - On the first anniversary of Super Typhoon Yolanda, SM Foundation through the SM Cares Housing Program turned over 200 homes at the SM Cares Village in Brgy. Polambato, Bogo City in northern Cebu.
The 200 houses are the first of the 1,000 disaster resilient homes that will be given free to chosen beneficiary survivors of Yolanda. Another 200 homes will be built in Concepcion, Iloilo, as well as 400 in New Kawayan, Tacloban City. SM Foundation is also set to break ground for another SM Cares Village with 200 houses in Ormoc City.
Presidential Assistant for Rehabilitation and Recovery (PARR) Secretary Panfilo Lacson, UN Chief of International Strategy for Disaster Reduction Asia and Pacific Margareta Whalstrom, Cebu Gov. Hilario Davide III and Bogo Mayor Celestino Martinez Jr. led the ribbon cutting ceremony and unveiling of the donor’s wall and village marker together with SM Prime Holdings president Hans Sy, SM Foundation executive director Debbie Sy and members of the Fernan family who donated the lot.
Among the donors present were Ramon Aboitiz Foundation president Robert Aboitiz, Rotary International past district governor Ed Chiongbian and Bernie and Alice Liu of Golden ABC. Also present were FCB Manila’s Nikki Diyco, Jun Young Bang and Tony Park of Tony and Jackey Beauty Salon; as well as executives from the SM Store, Watsons, SM Appliance Center. Also present were Presidential Assistant for Rehabilitation and Recovery Usec. Danny Antonio and SM Supermalls president Annie Garcia.
Ramon Aboitiz Foundation Trustee Fr. Ernesto Javier led the blessing of the houses. Keys and certificates were then distributed to the families.
“These houses send the message that indeed, there is light at the end of the tunnel,” said Martinez. “These homes provide a start for these families, a new beginning.”
He also thanked the Sy family, the Fernan family who donated the land, and “all those who worked hard to make this dream come true for the beneficiaries of the project.”
Davide thanked the SM Group for partnering with the local government unit in giving not just houses, but a village to the community. “Now I can say that Bogo City has risen. Life goes on and we are determined to bring the northern part of Cebu to full recovery.”
Lacson, on the other hand, was happy to note that “SM followed the standards with the structure of these houses, and we are classifying these housing units as permanent shelters because they followed the 250 km per hour wind resistance.”
Each 20 x 23 square meter house is designed to exceed the requirements of the Building Code and mandated standards, and can withstand the winds and strength of a Category 5 super typhoon without any major material damage. The village has utilities, basic amenities like streetlights, community center and basketball court. In addition to its disaster resiliency features, the houses will also have heat resistant painted roofing to help lower interior temperature and increase energy efficiency.