Red Cross to build houses at Lumbia relocation site

Wednesday, January 4, 2012

THE Philippine Red Cross (PRC) will build at least a thousand houses inside the lot donated by Xavier University (XU) in Barangay Lumbia for the residents affected by Tropical Storm Sendong.

On Saturday, a ground breaking ceremony for the project was held, which was attended by PRC chairperson Richard Gordon, PRC secretary general Gwendolyn Pang, XU Board of Trustees chair Elpidio Paras, outgoing Oro Chamber president Antonio Uy, foreign partners and the media.

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Gordon said they will build the houses after the land will be ready for basic services, particularly electricity, water and livelihood.

Myra Balandra, PRC-Cagayan de Oro chapter administrator, said the land developer that will help in the construction of the houses is A Brown Company Inc. headed by Dr. Walter and Annabelle Brown.

Balandra said the houses that will be built will depend on the agreement with their partners.

Earlier, XU granted “usufruct rights” to the City Government of Cagayan de Oro over its five-hectare property in Barangay Lumbia as relocation site for the affected residents.

Mayor Vicente Emano has accepted the offer and requested XU to meet immediately with prospective donors and partners from the private sector.

Emano said the City Government will identify the families that will opt to relocate in the area.

Meanwhile, Gordon offered 1,000 to 1,200 tents to be erected at the area as temporary shelters for the affected residents.

At least five tents were already put up as sample.

Gordon said he has requested XU for the deployment of its engineering students to help in putting up the tents.

While in the process of putting up the houses, Balandra said the PRC will still continue to provide relief and assistance to the affected residents.

She said they will distribute food and non-food items like hygiene kits and other necessary items.

“The PRC will also conduct hygiene briefing before we will give the items for awareness and proper usage,” Balandra said. (Michael Andrew W. Yu)