ZAMBOANGA City Mayor Ma. Isabelle Climaco-Salazar led the Zamboanga delegation to Manila for a meeting with the Australian Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade (DFAT) and other implementing agencies to discuss a proposed housing project for families displaced by the 2013 siege.
Together with Salazar were the key members of the Early Recovery Coordination Structure under the Zamboanga City Roadmap to Recovery and Reconstruction (Z3R) involved in the implementation of the permanent housing units for the affected families.
Also in the meeting were representatives from the Community and Family Services International (CFSI), Catholic Relief Services (CRS) as well as the Archdiocese of Zamboanga, which will be the implementers of the housing program.
City Hall Information Officer Belen Sheila Covarrubias said the discussions focused on how the DFAT together with the CFSI, CRS, Archdiocese and the local government can strengthen collaboration to ensure the successful implementation of the project.
The houses to be constructed and funded by the DFAT will be in addition to the number of houses that the national government is constructing for the IDPs.
Hundreds of families displaced during the 21-day September 2013 siege have not yet returned to their original places as the construction of permanent shelters has not yet been completed.
The siege-displaced families are staying in temporary shelters provided by the government.