PIA Press Release
Monday, August 29, 2011
LEGAZPI CITY, August 29 (PIA) -- Two separate sites for the core shelter community project, funded by Belgian government, Department of Social Welfare and Development and the United Nations Development Programme have been completed in the province of Albay.
The provision of low cost housing and installation of electric and water facilities has benefited 70 households located in Barangay Joroan, Tiwi and 80 households in Barangay Caratagan, Pioduran, all of Albay.
Tiwi Mayor Jaime Villanueva said these beneficiaries were moved from their respective dwellings due to the hazards that they face in their previous houses.
“Since then, we had been thinking ways to make their stay in this resettlement area easy or much better than their previous status. It will make their household chores easy and simple,” the mayor said.
Villanueva said that it is the policy of Albay governor Joey Salceda to resettle those families who are at risk, adding that "human capital is very important to us – to invest for the safety of our people.”
During the visit of Belgian ambassador Christian Meerschmar and UNDP country director Renaud Meyer to Tiwi last August 25, Villanueva said that the water and electric facilities is a symbol of the flowing of assistance from various development stakeholders of the municipality.
“May these blessings continue to inspire the recipients to be productive citizens of our locality,” she said.
“This is the only way that we wanted them to pay us back from these assistance that we had been extending to them,” Villanueva added.
He also reported that a new site for core shelter project for 60 family beneficiaries at Mayong is being developed by the National Housing Authority and the local government unit.
The purchase of the site is the responsibility of the local government unit while the NHA will take care of the development.
On the other hand, Pioduran Mayor Dante Arandia has assured the UNDP and the Belgian government that, together with the beneficiaries, they will cherish all assistance extended to the displaced families.
“Rest assured that we will make it a better community,” he said.
In Pioduran town, 80 households have benefited from the Core Shelter Assistance Project by the Belgian government, the DSWD and the UNDP under the Bicol Recovery Program.(MAL/MDR/LGU Albay)
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