TACLOBAN CITY, July 21 (PNA) — The city council here has vowed to to be more responsive to the needs of super typhoon Yolanda survivors in the next remaining months before the 2016 elections.
Vice Mayor Jerry T. Yaokasin is thankful that all the members of the council have been supportive and cooperative. Because of this unity, he believes that they can do more.
He said that although 20 months has passed since super typhoon Yolanda struck, rehabilitation should still be the priority.
“We hope that the major part of the rehabilitation has been completed, which for me is to be able to find a better place or permanent shelter for the internally displaced families,” Yaokasin said.
To date, some 600 families are still staying in temporary shelters in Apitong and Sagkahan villages, waiting to be transferred to permanent housing sites in the northern part of the city.
According to Yaokasin, the council has passed ordinances for the reclassification of several lots to support National Housing Authority’s (NHA) effort to build permanent shelter.
The council also granted several authorities for Mayor Alfred S. Romualdez to enter into a memorandum of agreement to partner with national government agencies and international organizations in the rehabilitation process. (PNA)