Pope Francis Village to Give Home to 550 families in Tacloban

(PIA) – Soon, some 550 families affected by the super typhoon ‘Yolanda’ will have their new and permanent houses in the Pope Francis Village.

The ground breaking ceremony was recently held for the 12-hectare project site in Barangay 99, Diit, Tacloban City.

According to the National Secretariat for Social Action (NASSA)-Caritas Philippines, the housing project is for families living the danger zones of Tacloban City.

It is also deemed as the first in-city permanent relocation, considering that other permanent shelter projects in Tacloban are situated in far-flung areas in the northern barangays.

“In-city relocation will allow every member of the family to earn a decent income and children to play in the playground,” Denis Murphy of Urban Poor Associates said.

Fr. Edwin Gariguez of NASSA/Caritas Philippines also said that the project proves that in-city housing is possible.

“We can provide permanent housing to the people of Tacloban without taking them away from their livelihood,” Fr. Gariguez said.

The location also houses day care center, a school, a chapel, and a basketball court.

The project is expected to be completed by September next year.

The project is being implemented by the FRANCESCO (Pope Francis for Resilient and Co-Empowered Sustainable Communities), a consortium composed of the Canadian Catholic Organization for Development and Peace, NASSA/Caritas Philippines, Urban Poor Associates, the Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Palo, and the Congregation of the Most Holy Redeemer. (NASSA/CARITAS PHL/RJB/JEG/PIA-NCR)

news.pia.gov.ph