Iloilo City transit housing for 'Frank' victims ready for occupancy
Some 30 transit housing units are now available for displaced families here after Typhoon Frank destroyed their houses in June this year.
The newly-built transit housing units are in the relocation site in San Isidro, Jaro that is currently being developed by the city government.
Construction of temporary houses is facilitated by the Homeless People's Federation, with the aim of putting up 50 units for the typhoon victims.
Simultaneous with the building of houses is the construction of the communal facilities with toilet and bath, kitchen and general meeting area, being done by the City Engineer's Office.
Ten toilets and bath are already finished under phase one of the construction activity.
Evacuees will stay in the transit facility while their new houses are being built through the housing project of Gawad Kalinga (GK), supervised by the Church-based Couples for Christ.
Peachy Garrido of the Presidential Commission for the Urban Poor, a member of the Ad-Hoc Committee under the Multi-Sectoral Council for Community-Driven, Slum Upgrading of Iloilo City, said they will prioritize the 54 families currently staying at the Jaro gymnasium for transfer to the initially built transit housing units.
Association of Barangay Captains-Jaro district president Jonas Bellosillo said the 54 families are ready to leave the place by next week.
Local officials in the district want the gym vacated so they can restore it after almost three months as temporary shelter for the victims.
Beneficiaries of the GK housing project in San Isidro relocation site, however, will still have to undergo the process of screening and evaluation of the Ad-Hoc Committee before they can be eligible for transfer.
The city government has authorized the Ad-Hoc Committee to identify, screen, and select qualified beneficiaries for relocation.
The committee's members included the Iloilo City Urban Poor Network, Association of Barangay Captains in Jaro, GK, City Social Welfare and Development Office, Presidential Commission for the Urban Poor, and the Iloilo City Hall Press Corps. (PNA)