Gov. Petilla visits housing site for Yolanda survivors in Tacloban

CEBU, Philippines - Leyte Governor Leopoldo Dominico Petilla visited the beneficiaries of low-cost housing at Brigham Estate in Barangay Bagacay in Tacloban City.

The governor was the guest of honor during the ceremonial cutting of ribbon and turnover of a housing unit to Yolanda survivor Bernadette Abarca, one of 422 families who were beneficiaries of the housing project undertaken by the Brigham Estate Homeowners Association Incorporated with the help of Mineland Shelter Foundation Inc.

This permanent housing project was implemented with the help of Mineland Shelter Foundation Inc., headed by its chief executive officer Siony Sia, with funds from the Social Housing Finance Corporation.

Petilla, in his speech during the event, told the beneficiaries: “I am happy to see all of you here and to be with you in this occasion despite my hectic schedule. I am warmly congratulating all of you, survivors of Yolanda, who despite the devastation and losses that we experienced, we are gradually rising up. My advice to you is to take care of your houses, which you can now call your own, for a peaceful community. We should be grateful to the SHFC and the Mineland Shelter, which had been active in making the wishes of the Yolanda victims a reality.”

The governor also assisted in the medical mission that followed the ceremonies, and then in the distribution of 3,000 food packs to the housing beneficiaries.

Major General Jet Velarmino, commander of the 8th Infantry Division of the Philippine Army, lead in the conduct of the medical mission and distribution of medicines, along with optometrist, Doctor Kim Rocio Patrolla, who did eye checkups on the homeowners and gave 550 reading glasses, which was sponsored also by Mineland.

Also gracing the event was Edith Ruazon, head of Makati Health Plus, who extended help in the mission.

Sia, for her part, told the guests and the beneficiaries, “We would like to give thanks to all for the success of the medical mission and to SHFC for its support to the housing project of Brigham.”

Sia then announced that Mineland will be implementing another housing project, also under the community mortgage program, in Palo town of Leyte, fo an estimated 1,000 beneficiaries or Yolanda survivors in that area by next year. — Marlon Necito A. Taño (FREEMAN)