Tzu Chi gives 255 houses to Yolanda victims in Palo

CEBU, Philippines – Coinciding with Valentine's Day observance on Saturday, Tzu Chi Foundation turned over a total of 255 prefabricated housing units to typhoon Yolanda survivors, in a resettlement area named Great Love Village at Barangay San Jose in Palo town of Leyte.

During the inauguration and blessing ceremony, Mayor Remedios "Matin" Petilla signed the acceptance of the houses in behalf of the beneficiaries who were awarded with the units for free.

Petilla and the beneficiaires thanked the Tzu Chi leaders and other volunteers who worked tirelessly to finish the project in the relocation site that was purchased by the Palo local government for the purpose.

The other groups who helped Tzu Chi in the project were aid organizations such as All Hands, Samaritan's Purse, and volunteers from Cebu and Taiwan who produced the prefab materials.

Each of the housing units is provided with solar panels for electric power and came complete with home utensils, among other provisions.

Alfredo Li, chief executive officer of Tzu Chi–Philippines, led the turnover, assisted by Henry Yuñez, project coordinator, and Eugene Tan, Tzu Chi representative in Tacloban City.