CEBU, Philippines - The Rotary International 3860 has partnered anew with SM Cares Housing Program to provide more houses to residents of Yolanda-affected areas in northern Cebu.
In the latest memorandum of agreement inked by the two groups, both have agreed to add 18 more housing units to the existing 30 units.
Rotary International 3860 District Governor Ed Chongbian signed the MOA together with fellow official Wilton Uykingtian.
Representing SM were SM Prime Holdings vice president Marissa Fernan along with SM Supermalls vice president for operations in Visayas Joy Veloso.
Chongbian revealed that their group intends to build homes and has in fact targeted 200 houses for the SM Cares Housing in Bogo City.
The district governor added that since their Australian counterparts were impressed by this endeavor, they intend to construct a separate Rotary International Village in northern Cebu.
Fernan said SM CEO Hans Sy expressed the same plans.
A separate MOA was signed during the same activity between the agreeing institutions.
“We are delighted with this partnership with Rotary District 3860. Their donation has opened the floodgates of donation from other rotary chapters. Luzon, Australia, New Zealand also plans to contribute,” Fernan said.
She pointed out though one concern hindering the project.
“We have a few technical difficulties. The city of Bogo does not have a drainage system. But we have already spoken with the local government unit and DPWH will take care of drainage of the entire city. We’re very optimistic,” Fernan said.
SM and its government agency partners agreed to finish the drainage system before the first anniversary of Super Typhoon Yolanda in November 8 this year.
Meanwhile, the Carmen Copper Ladies Association, Inc. in partnership with Carmen Copper Corp. (Carmen Copper) and parent company Atlas Consolidated Mining and Development Corp. (Atlas Mining) were in Panitugan islet in Bantayan, Cebu last June 28 for another wave of post-Yolanda rehabilitation aid.
Panitugan islet is the beneficiary of Carmen Copper and Atlas Mining’s Adopt-an-Island project for the survivors of Typhoon Yolanda that struck and wreaked havoc in northern Cebu towns and other parts of the Visayas.
To hasten their recovery, CCLAi led by its President Tessie Ledesma-Cal gave away imported toys and school supplies to 350 children in the islet as part of its Balik Eskwela program. The children were also fed free lunch after the distribution of gifts.
Some 65 fisherfolks in the islet during a succeeding distribution also received fishing nets and other paraphernalia to complement the brand new motorboats that Carmen Copper and Atlas Mining earlier donated.
Community Relations Department Superintendent Neil L. Papas turned over the fishing equipment worth over P140,000 to the islet folks to help them increase their catch.
CCLAi’s Balik Eskwela program is also in cooperation with Carmen Copper which donated a generous amount for the purchase of school supplies. The imported toys were donated by the Mt. Sinai Hospital of Baltimore through the Peri-op Services and Anaesthesia Department in Maryland, USA. Earlier in June, CCLAi’s Balik Eskwela program benefitted 58 day care and kindergarten pupils in the mountain barangay of Loay, Toledo City. (FREEMAN)