Austrian Org, RAFI, San Remigio Town Turn Over Houses for Yolanda Survivors

Over a year after work began, international non-government organization Hilfswerk Austria (HWA), Ramon Aboitiz Foundation Inc. (RAFI), and the municipality of San Remigio, Cebu last December 9 inaugurated the houses they built for 155 families who were survivors of super typhoon Yolanda at the “Austria Village” relocation site in Barangay Barangay Maño, San Remigio.

San Remigio was among the northern Cebu towns badly battered by super typhoon Yolanda when it devastated the Visayas last November 8, 2013.

The “Austrian Village,” a pilot project of HWA in the country, was targeted for completion this month when work on the 2.9-hectare site started last year.

HWA is one of Austria’s leading organizations for development cooperation and humanitarian aid. It is guided by the principles of sustainable development and universal human rights. Through its projects and programs, it aims to improve the lives and perspectives of beneficiaries.

RAFI, HWA, and the local government of San Remigio signed a Memorandum of Agreement for the construction of permanent homes for the families affected by the “no-build zone” strictly imposed by the government in the aftermath of Yolanda in March 2014.

(Left to right) Hilfswerk Austria Desk Officer Corina Ziesel, residents’ ad hoc team chairman Expedito Bantoc, Jr., Ramon Aboitiz Foundation Inc.-Integrated Development Unit Executive Director Anthony Dignadice, and San Remigio Mayor Mariano Martinez (right, partially hidden) sign paddles as a symbolic gesture of support. The paddles were then turned over to the residents so signify that they must also strive to “paddle” towards their intended destination in the future.

Less than three months later, construction of the relocation site formally started with a ground-breaking ceremony on June 2.

“I can honestly say these are one of the nicest to look at, if not the nicest houses (built for survivors),” said town Mayor Mariano Martinez during the inauguration ceremony.

He said the relocation still requires additional work, like ripraps to support parts of the rolling terrain, and a complete playground for kids, but he was glad the site is ready for the beneficiaries.

Suzanne Chylik, HWA project manager, who stayed in San Remigio since 2014 to oversee the work on the site, said that they would still stay even after they finish all 155 houses this month as their support would still continue in some other forms.

“I will be back next year, January 2016, because together with RAFI, we still will continue to social development and accompany the families for some more months in order to give livelihood trainings and make their life more sustainable,” she said.

“Our livelihood programs will start next year. We tried to include every family from this relocation project, together with RAFI and with our livelihood suppliers,” she also said.

Asked if they would stay in the country after the relocation project, Chylik said they are planning to do so by partnering with other organizations like RAFI.

“We are still trying to get funds and we would love to stay here in the Philippines to support. We have seen that there is still a need. Not only because of calamities but also the poverty index here is quite high. Our objective is to try to stay longer in the Philippines to support the people here,” she said.

Hilfswerk Austria Desk Officer Corina Ziesel (right) and Ramon Aboitiz Foundation Inc.-Integrated Development Unit Executive Director Anthony Dignadice prepare to cut the ribbon to signal the formal inauguration of the 155 houses built in Barangay Barangay, San Remigio, Cebu for super typhoon Yolanda survivors.

The beneficiaries’ houses were built through “sweat equity”, or that the beneficiaries, under the technical guidance of HWA, took part in the construction of their homes. They were required to devote 400 hours helping build their own homes. This way, the families were hoped to develop early on a sense of ownership of their new homes.

As stipulated in the MOA, the town, among other responsibilities, provided the location for the houses. The town also provided the heavy equipment and the plans in the construction of the houses and the development of infrastructure. RAFI, for its part, acted as facilitator and evaluator of the program by monitoring the implementation, profiling the beneficiaries, and gathering baseline data.

Aside from providing the funds for the construction of the houses, HWA also provided technical supervision during the construction of houses, including the assignment of Chylik as overall project manager. “This kind of ‘sweat equity’ is an important contribution by the beneficiaries to the project as they will feel responsible for their community and give a helping hand to the activities on site,” she said. The strategy also gave is will also give an opportunity for HWA and RAFI to get to know the beneficiaries better to identify future leaders who can lead the new community.

Two years after super typhoon Yolanda struck and destroyed their homes, 155 families in San Remigio, Cebu received new houses in a relocation site in Barangay Maño provided to them by international non-government organization Hilfswerk Austria, the municipality of San Remigio, and the Ramon Aboitiz Foundation Inc. (RAFI).

RAFI-Integrated Development Unit Executive Director Anthony Dignadice, on the other hand, said the foundation was glad it is able to help, quoting the words of RAFI’s founder Eduardo Aboitiz: The dignity of man, is best respected by helping him realize his hopes, and sharing with him the burdens of his fears.

“Hope. This is the very essence of what we are celebrating today. And we are glad we were able to provide happiness to the families,” he said.

To ensure sustainability, the design and construction of the permanent houses utilized the solid Interlocking Compressed Earth Block (ICEB) bricks pioneered by the University of San Carlos and RAFI, instead of non-durable materials like plywood.

Martinez said he was buying six of the ICEB’s moulder and distribute them to the barangays, providing alternative means of livelihood, since it uses a little cement mixed with limestone, which is abundant in San Remigio.

As stipulated under the Memorandum of agreement, the beneficiaries are chosen based on the following criteria:

• The house has been completely destroyed by the typhoon and is uninhabitable.

• The family does not receive adequate assistance for house repair/reconstruction.

• Current residence is within the “no build zone.”

• The family does not own the house they are currently living in.

• The family is willing to be relocated.

• The household is headed by a female.

• The family is taking care of an elderly (aged 60 or above).

• The family is taking care of people with disabilities (PWDs).

• The beneficiary is endorsed by the LGU.