TZU CHI, the world's largest Buddhist charity, will replace the prefabricated houses in the Palo Great Love Village in Palo, Leyte, following its plan to build a permanent housing project in the said town.
“From what we learned from them, the reason why they stayed is because they really feel the peace inside our village,” said Tzu Chi Philippines Deputy Chief Executive Officer (CEO) Woon Ng.
Tzu Chi volunteers from Manila flew to Palo recently to conduct a site survey for the upcoming project.
Tzu Chi Philippines CEO Henry Yuñez, together with the project architect and engineer met with the Palo Office of the Municipal Engineer during their visit.
“The Manila volunteers were pleased to see the villagers during their visit. Although some have already left, many families have happily stayed in the Tzu Chi village,” the Buddhist charity group said.
According to Tzu Chi, they will turn the prefabricated housing units into permanent shelters “to continuously uplift the lives of the Palo residents.”
“The livelihood center inside the village will also be improved with new facilities,” it added.
Alice Tupaz, a housing recipient of the village, thanked the Buddhist charity group for the livelihood she received as a seamstress in Palo Great Love Village.
“When my husband got involved in an accident, I became the breadwinner of the family. The livelihood that Tzu Chi gave me has been a big help,” said Tupaz, a mother of five.
Upon learning about the upcoming permanent housing project, Tupaz also expressed her joy.
“We’re so happy. This is what I’ve been praying for,” she said.
“I’m a single parent to two children and I also take care of my sickly mother. As the family’s breadwinner, the house will surely help us,” added Geneve Aumentado, a volunteer teacher at the Daycare Center and a housing recipient in the village.
In a statement, Tzu Chi said it aims to complete the permanent housing project in November 2023, in time for Typhoon Yolanda’s 10th year commemoration.
In 2014, Tzu Chi, through its founder Master Cheng Yen, established the Palo Great Love Village, a resettlement site comprised of prefabricated houses and a livelihood center for survivors of the 2013 Super Typhoon Yolanda.
The livelihood center also houses a sewing facility, daycare center, recycling center, kitchen, and bakery that provide jobs to occupants of the Great Love Village.
Immediately after Yolanda’s devastation, Tzu Chi has been in the forefront of the relief and rehabilitation efforts for the typhoon survivors.
In its disaster relief, rehabilitation, and recovery response in the province of Leyte, 280,000 residents were provided with instant hot rice, 68,000 families received cash and material aid, and 300,000 residents benefited from the cash-for-work program, while 8,400 patients were treated, according to the Buddhist charity organization. (SunStar Philippines)