4,000 houses built, repaired in Mindanao for Pablo victims – EU

At least 4,000 houses have been rebuilt or repaired in Compostela Valley and Davao Oriental for families affected by Typhoon Pablo, which hit Mindanao in late 2012, according to the Delegation of the European Union to the Philippines.

"The road to recovery and reconstruction is easier when all the stakeholders actively participate – the affected families, local government units, international organizations and non-government organizations," Delegation head Ambassador Guy Ledoux said in a statement.

The EU said it collaborated with the Red Cross to rebuild and repair the houses.

The houses were constructed on hazard-free lots owned by families or on public land, the statement read.
 
Families with damaged houses were also given cash vouchers worth P10,000 with additional transport allowance.

Meanwhile, families with totally damaged houses were given houses worth P30,000 to P75,000 measuring 20 square meters for a family of six, Ledoux said.

"[T]he bulk purchase of the materials and the involvement of the community in the construction of the homes (with the able support of engineers and skilled workers from the Red Cross) ensured efficient and cost-effective results," the ambassador said.

The United Nations said some 250,000 houses, public buildings and businesses were damaged or destroyed, the statement read.

In the last half of 2013, the EU provided €52.8 million (P3.1 billion) for families affected by typhoon Pablo.

It has also given €40 million for the victims of super typhoon Yolanda, €2.5 million for victims of the Bohol earthquake, and €300,000 for victims of the Zamboanga crisis.

The EU has also given a €2.55 million (P150 million) in grants to the International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies as well as the Spanish and the German Red Cross societies in partnership with the Philippine Red Cross, for them to provide shelters to Pablo victims.

It has also given €7.45 million (P440 million) to other groups to provide food, water, sanitation, shelter, livelihoods and medical care to Pablo victims.
 
Pablo, which hit parts of Mindanao, Visayas and Palawan in December 2012, left at least 1,067 dead, 2,666 injured and 834 missing, according to the National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council.

It affected 711,682 families or 6,243,998 people in 3,064 villages in 318 towns and 40 cities in 34 provinces.

Damage to property was estimated at P36.949 billion, including P7.565 billion in infrastructure and P26.526 billion in agriculture. — Marc Jayson Cayabyab/BM, GMA News