By Aimee C. Querubin
CALBAYOG CITY, Samar, April 23 (PNA) – The Philippine Red Cross has poured in PHP334 million worth of assistance for super typhoon Yolanda-displaced families in Samar province, an official disclosed on Wednesday.
Philippine Red Cross secretary general Gwendolyn Pang said the assistance extended since late 2013 are in the form of livelihood, health facilities, emergency employment, and shelter.
Pang arrived at Calbayog Airport on Wednesday to lead the turn-over of shelters to Yolanda-affected families in badly-hit towns of Basey and Marabut and livelihood support to same beneficiaries through their cash for work program.
She said that shelters were constructed on-site, which means, same area where the houses were built before Yolanda struck, but are assessed as “still safe” for dwelling.
Sizes of their core shelters were based on the international standard which is at 24 square meters per housing unit, including toilet.
“We have fixed up big investments for construction of shelters here in Samar. The total amount is at PHP250 million to complete 4,126 houses,” Pang told reporters.
Meanwhile, a separate PHP15 million is also set to be distributed through Red Cross’ cash for work program to 1,500 individuals, to include carpenters, laborers, and shelter beneficiaries
This is in on top of the PHP3.2 million for the construction and rehabilitation of health care facilities and another PHP6.5 million for water and sanitation reconstruction.
“This, all in all, totals to P334-M worth of Red Cross projects for Samar alone”, she furthered.
Pang ended up her statements expressing gratitude to the European Union, the Finnish Red Cross, the Spanish Red Cross and the German Red Cross for helping them make everything achievable. (PNA)