TACLOBAN CITY, March 25 (PNA) — The Filipino-Chinese Friendship Village that will be put up in Barayong village in Palo, Leyte will be transferred to Castilla village, also in the same town.
Leyte Governor Leopoldo Dominico Petilla said the permanent relocation site will have to be transferred outside the landslide-prone area.
Last month, the LGU was preparing to buy the lot in Castilla village for the project. When all the documents are ready, the construction will kick off, said Petilla. The land will be the counterpart of the province in the project.
“These are permanent houses and we are hoping we can give the best and safest place to the typhoon victims. The neighboring villages can also enroll in the school that will be put up in the village, ” Petilla said.
The donor will construct 500 permanent houses for Yolanda victims from Palo town, whose houses were totally damaged by the supertyphoon on Nov. 8, 2013. Aside from 500 houses, the donors will also build 10 units of school buildings with 20-classrooms.
The friendship village is a project of the Federation of the Filipino Chambers of Commerce and Industry, Inc. (FFCCCII) and partner associations all over the world in cooperation with the local government.
The groundbreaking was done in the 5-hectare Barayong village last April 2014 in the presence of Dr. Lucio Tan, chairman emeritus of the chamber and other officers.
According to Jack Uy, president of the Tacloban Filipino-Chinese Chamber of Commerce, Inc., the construction will cost Php40 million and Php3 million for the school buildings, which will also have a toilet and wash area in each classroom.
No less than President Benigno Aquino witnessed the signing of the memorandum of agreement (MOA) between the FFCCCII represented by its president Dr. Alfonso Siy, Province of Leyte Governor Dominic Petilla and Palo Mayor Remedios Petilla in Malacañang in March 2014.
Mayor Petilla said the people of Palo are thankful to the Filipino-Chinese community. The local government unit of Palo and the Department of Social Development and Welfare screen those who will stay in the friendship village which will comprise from the different villages badly hit by the typhoon.
“We will prioritize those whose houses were flattened to the ground and are still living in temporary shelters or living with their relatives,” she said. (PNA)
FPV/SQM/VICKY C. ARNAIZ/EGR