TACLOBAN CITY, Oct. 22 (PNA) — The SM Foundation will build 400 houses in this city’s New Kawayan village for poor families displaced by super typhoon Yolanda last year.
Loft-able houses will rise within a year in a four-hectare property donated by the Catholic Church for the housing project funded by SM Foundation, the corporate social responsibility arm of the SM Group of Companies.
In a groundbreaking ceremony Tuesday, SM Supermalls President Annie Garcia said the fund for this project will be sourced out from the P100 million donation of the giant firm for Yolanda survivors,
“We have seen the suffering of people here and for SM, which was a call for action to really help. Even our tenants and suppliers donated…. We cannot just do our business and not help others,” Garcia said.
Archbishop John F. Du of the diocese of Palo said the SM Cares housing project will bring more hope to survivors who lost their loved ones, houses, and livelihood.
“In this part of Tacloban, a community will rise and with that community, comes brighter future for many of those who never gave up,” Du said.
“What will rise in this place are not only houses, but homes because a home is what comprises a community… a community of love, not just to give refuge to roofless, but also an endeavour that will give shelter to love, family life, sense of concern and respect to one another,” he added.
The SM Foundation is working with local government units and other non-government organizations to identify the housing project beneficiaries.
Aside from Tacloban, the SM Cares houses will also rise in Bogo City in Cebu province, Concepcion in Iloilo, and Ormoc City in Leyte. (PNA)