Tzu Chi Foundation launches project for 2,000 houses

ORMOC CITY, Philippines – The Buddhist Tzu Chi Foundation Inc. on Monday launched its housing project for Yolanda victims and internally displaced persons in the city, during a ceremony held at the city plaza.

Present during the launching was Alfredo Li, president and chief executive officer of Tzu Chi-Philippines, Mayor Edward Codilla and wife Violy, Vice Mayor Leo Carmelo Locsin Jr., former 4th Leyte Representative Eufrocino Codilla Sr, some city councilors and other Tzu Chi volunteers.

Tzu Chi will be constructing 2,000 houses in a 50-hectare site at Barangay Liloan in this city that the family of Mayor Codilla and wife has donated, under a usufruct arrangement for the next 50 years.

“Beneficiaries will be informed about the Usufruct agreement,” Li said when asked by The Freeman if the future occupants are aware of the terms and conditions embodied in the documents.

There will be two types of houses to be built, one of which measures 21 square meters for a family of four with two bedrooms, a kitchen, a living room and a bathroom. The other type is a 27-square meter type for a family of five and more with three bedrooms, a kitchen, a living room and a comfort room.

Volunteers from Tzu Chi and some Ormocanon beneficiaries demonstrated how to assemble the prefabricated houses to the city officials, civic organizations, barangay and DSWD-8 regional officials, among others.

Li, in a press conference, said the temporary shelters’ (permanent ones to local standards) specifications were based on Master Cheng Yen instructions to uphold the dignity of the people on the rebuilding process.

“Similar shelter unit was also put up in the Manila office for testing during typhoon Glenda. It passed,” he said about the shelter’s durability, while admitting that persistent rains in the past weeks have in a way delayed the start of the construction.

The pre-fabricated houses will be made of steel and polypropylene plastic from Texas, U.S.A., the materials of which have already arrived from Taiwan and are now stocked at a warehouse in Cebu.

With 20 plus builders from Taiwan who are experts in assembling it, the recipients are expected to help build the houses, said Li adding that unemployed women now residing in temporary bunkhouses will help in making cement tiles for the floors.

The relocation site, the master development plan of which was drawn up by renowned Architect Jun Palafox, will set a standard for the world. The main road will be 15 meters wide, while the side roads would be six meters wide. There will be parks and spaces also, said Li.

Li also cited Leyte 4th district Representative Lucy Torres-Gomez who brought Tzu Chi to Ormoc City, days after Yolanda. Lucy appealed to foundation to take a look at the city, which was also devastated, but did not get much attention from humanitarian groups because the focus at the time was Tacloban City.

Tzu Chi came to Ormoc on November 13 and met with the Codillas and the city officials. Li conveyed that Taiwan-based Dharma Master Chen Yen, who founded Tzu Chi in 1966, was happy to find a place where the mayor was more than willing to lend his land for the relocation of the homeless.

Li said Master Chen Yen was so impressed of Codilla, the reason why Tzu Chi wanted to give the Ormocanons the best shelters in the world. He added that Tzu Chi will also build 300 houses in Tacloban City and 700 more in Palo town of Leyte.

DSWD-8 Regional Director Restituto Ramos, for his part, said he was happy with the endeavor of Tzu Chi because there is really a big lack of housing assistance to the victims of Yolanda for them to recover and have a new life.