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Philippines

Philippines: PNRC completes 15,012 houses for typhoon and disaster victims

The homes of over 15,000 families that were destroyed by typhoons and other natural calamities were rebuilt and repaired in record time under the shelter program of Philippine National Red Cross (PNRC) headed by Chairman and CEO, Sen. Richard Gordon.

"Most people can only imagine the almost unspeakable suffering endured by people who have lost their homes in typhoons, mudslides or floods. Everyday that they spend under the hot sun or cold rain is a day too long," Gordon said.

"We cannot replace all that they have lost but at least we can help them up as they start again," he added even as he pushed the PNRC to provide as many shelter units for as many disaster victims in the shortest span of time.

In its latest report to Gordon, the PNRC has completed a total of 15,012 homes, of which about 6,634 families benefited from full shelter kits and the remaining 8,378 were from roofing kits given by the PNRC.

The PNRC had been in the forefront of helping the victims of major disasters and emergencies that hit the country such as Ginsaugon, Southern Leyte landslide, typhoons Reming, Milenyo, Winnie, Yoyong, Unding, Violeta and the on-going Mindanao conflict.

Apart from raising funds for the acquisition of housing materials, Gordon secured the assistance not only of the international aid agencies and other foreign governments but also of the Philippine and US military in transporting the materials.

In partnership with the Australian Aid (AusAid), Cruz Roja Espanola (Spanish Red Cross), European Commission Humanitarian Aid, Agencia Espanola Cooperacion Internationale and International Federation of the Red Cross and Red Crescent Movement, the PNRC was able to provide shelter to the most vulnerable.

The largest numbers of Red Cross homes were built in several towns in the province of Camarines Sur which totaled to 5,600, of which 3,360 families were given full shelter kits and 2,240 others with roofing kits.

A total of 2,640 homes were built for victims of Typhoon Yoyong. A thousand families who lost their homes in the towns of Bacacay, Legaspi, and Manito in Albay were provided with 600 full shelter kits and 400 roofing kits; another one thousand families in the towns of Bato, Virac, and San Andres in Catanduanes were provided with 600 full shelter kits and 400 roofing kits.

A total of 822 Red Cross homes were also built in Aurora Provinces, 827 homes in Isabela, and 802 in the towns of Mulanay and San Francisco in Quezon Province.

About 500 homes were likewise built in Casiguran, Prieto, Diaz, and Gubat, Bacon District in Sorsogon; 802 in Baco, Bulalacao, Calapan, Naujan, and Victoria in Mindoro Oriental; 802 in Buenavista, Mogpog, Sta. Cruz, and Torrijos in Marinduque; and eight out of the initial 24 housing units in Lanao del Norte.