Korean Air Extends Support to Yolanda Victims

Almost half a million people lost their homes since Super Typhoon Yolanda (International name – Haiyan) wrought havoc in the Philippines 17 months ago. Thousands of people used to live in tents and others got nowhere to go after the catastrophe.

Today, survivors of Yolanda in Cebu can now have a home they can call their own – thanks to Korean Air and Habitat for Humanity Philippines (HFHP).

The flag carrier airline of South Korea and the international group that specializes in sustainable shelter construction, team up for a Hyper Housing project in the Queen City of the South.

Responding to disasters since 1998, HFHP continues to build homes for the homeless. Korean Air backs its advocacy by helping build homes in not just one, but three typhoon-stricken towns in Cebu.

The airline, headed by Cebu Regional Manager Jong Wook Park, donated USD 5,050 to the officials of HFHP and and provided repair kits to its housing projects during the project launch last April 11 at Brgy. Paypay in Daanbantayan, one of the relocation sites.

Since July 2014, construction of 127 houses in Paypay Relocation already took place. In Brgy. Agujo (Agujo Relocation site), 74 homes were also being built.

Set to be completed this year, the housing projects for the two barangays will have single detached and duplex units. Each unit is built with weather-resistant roofing and whole house is pegged at P200, 000 with 30 sqm floor area.

Construction for both sites started in July 2014. This 1-hectare housing project was donated by the family of Daanbantayan Mayor Augosto Corro.

Sponsors will release final list of beneficiaries also in July this year. To qualify as beneficiaries of the program, each family will be screened by a special committee composed of barangay officials, religious groups and other sectors.

Apart from giving out repair kits for the two relocation sites, Korean Air also donated construction tools to the existing 372 housing project of HFHP in Bantayan Island.

“Korean Air has a big heart for the Filipinos. They immediately responded after the storm. Since last year, they’ve been helping us in our goal to provide more shelters for the homeless, especially those affected by the typhoon by continuously donating repair kits,” says Chay Holganza, Habitat Philippines Chief Operating Officer (COO).

The company continues to uphold its advocacy of providing relief works in communities affected by natural calamities. In August last year, its employees or volunteer group from Seoul visited Bicol in the Philippines to repair damaged houses, provide feeding programs, give out nutritional supplements and basic medicines and install solar lamps for underprivileged families in remote areas.

The campaign was followed by donation of relief goods donation last November 13 to Yolanda victims. Today, Korean Air aims to donate more repair kits to Barangay Sulangan, Bantayan. (by Darlene Regis)