CCCI, Gawad Kalinga to Rebuild Houses for Quake Victims

Three weeks after the 7.2 magnitude earthquake hit Central Visayas which claimed lives; destroyed houses and damaged infrastructures all amounting to P1 billion, relief efforts from both public and private organizations here and abroad continue to pour in, particularly in the province of Bohol where it is most affected.

Cebu Chamber of Commerce and Industry (CCCI), through its Disaster Coordinating Committee, in partnership with Gawad Kalinga (GK), has established an assistance to the earthquake victims in Bohol—re-building homes for the quake-stricken victims.

Jay Aldeguer, president of souvenirs and tourism-driven company the Islands Group, started an advocacy to encourage Boholanos and Cebuanos alike to “rise up” amid the catastrophe that happened entitled #Bangon SugBohol, days after the earthquake. The movement gained support from key business organizations, civic groups, non-profit organizations and other institutions that it pulled in resources to raise funds to buy life-giving supplies for the victims.

Out of the movement also, a benefit concert entitled “We Will Rise Again” was organized at the Ayala Terraces last October 20 and followed a sequel last October 26 at SM Northwing. Cebuano talents and musicians performed for free in the concert, which gathered P1.8 million in cash donations. Donations in-kind and pledges were also generated from the concerts. The #Bangon SugBohol movement provided a pathway for relief goods such as food and water to be received, repackaged, transported and distributed to Bohol at the soonest possible time.

CCCI was tasked to be the lead convenor of the movement with co-convenors Cebu Province, Cities of Cebu, Mandaue and Lapu-lapu for the government sector, Mandaue and Cebu Business Club for business, Islands Souvenirs and Movement for a Liveable Cebu (MLC). The media, civic groups, NGOs and other private institutions also partnered in the movement.

Both CCCI and GK had recently stopped its relief operations, moving to a second phase of its assistance. Thus, the rehabilitation stage was announced.

Oquinena (Image credit: wwwmindanaoexaminer.blogspot.com)

According to Luis Oquinena, GK’s executive director, they are looking at a cost of P60,000 for each house unit using ‘waist-level’ hollow blocks, amakan, nipa or kawayan as possible materials. 1,000 units will be built for the affected families, which Oquinena termed as “transitioning” houses, a housing project that would be new for GK, them being more known for permanent housing initiatives for displaced families like the Luzon and Cagayan de Oro typhoon victims this year and last year.

“GK kasi is known for permanent housing. This one (Bohol rehabilitation) might be good to provide transitioning houses which are designed where (the) family can later on build on it,” said Oquinena. “It will be waist-level hollow blocks clad with amacan or nipa…”

Gawad Kalinga will be finishing the details of the design of the house this week and will start to build the transitioning houses the week after. They can begin with 50 to 100 transitioning houses. The CCCI will be in-charge in pulling out resources for the rehabilitation, through its members, contacts and linkages.