New life for survivors starts at Xavier Ecoville

Wednesday, January 25, 2012

THE number 40 holds significant meanings for various spiritual and cultural traditions -- Jesus fasted in the desert for 40 days and 40 nights; Buddha reached enlightenment after meditating for 40 days under the Bodhi Tree; Prophet Muhammad received his first revelations at the age of 40; and it rained for 40 days and 40 nights during the Great Flood.

Today, January 25, exactly 40 days after “Sendong” struck Cagayan de Oro, signs of a new beginning for the flood survivors are taking solid shape in Barangay Lumbia as Xavier University will bless Xavier Ecoville, a brand new neighborhood for families who have been displaced by the storm.

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At least 500 families or about 2,500 people will reside at Xavier Ecoville, a joint relocation and resettlement project of Xavier University and the local government of Cagayan de Oro.

The families were chosen from a comprehensive list supplied by the City Social Welfare and Development, the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD), the affected barangays and the Archdiocese of Cagayan de Oro.

Priority has been given to families whose houses were completely washed out, those from barangays that have been declared as no-build zones and in areas considered as dangerously flood-prone.

“Our mandate is to ensure a smooth and organized community transfer,” said Estrella Borja, community organizing and community development head.

Borja said the process involves three phases -- selection, which covers profiling and orientation of the beneficiaries and matching of houses to the beneficiaries; transfer to the temporary shelter; and transfer to the permanent shelter.

She said the long-term goal is to “facilitate the organization and development of an eco-friendly and sustainable village with the community participating in the process.”

Borja said formation and community development programs will start as soon as the families have settled in.

The first batch of 40 families have already moved in to Phase One of Xavier Ecoville, the temporary shelter provided with help from the Philippine Red Cross, International Organization for Migration, the Philippine Army and the DSWD.

The temporary shelter has water from Rio Verde and power supply from the Cagayan Electric Power and Light Company (Cepalco); restrooms including sustainable sanitation toilets, laundry area, kitchen, washrooms provided by the Human Resettlement Consortium; a waste disposal system; and a community center.

Phase 2 will be the site for the permanent houses.

A mobile school will also be provided in partnership with the Department of Education (DepEd) to ensure that the children can go back to school immediately even if there might not be enough classrooms yet to accommodate the new students.

Xavier University and DepEd-Northern Mindanao will plan the curriculum for emergency education using the mobile school, a bus provided by UNTV equipped with audio-visual components and a public address system, among other learning tools.

Knowledge materials will come from the Knowledge Channel.

With the expected arrival of 500 families who will be building their future at Xavier Ecoville in Lumbia, Xavier University is consequently engaged in community development to help them establish authentic relationships with their new neighbors.

The master plan of the new settlement involves support for “green” technology through provision of waste water treatment facility and promotion of solid waste management, livelihood, education, community organizing and governance.

“The project is not just about building houses,” says Fr. Eric Velandria, SJ, head of the partnership management committee. “The project is building a community of responsible citizens who will care for one another, for our city and for the environment.”