MANILA, April 29, 2013—The Vincentian family in the Philippines is set to turn over some housing units to survivors of Typhoon Sendong in Cagayan de Oro City this coming May 4.
Recognizing the plight of the survivors of urban poor communities in affected areas in Mindanao, particularly in Cagayan de Oro City, the St. Vincent de Paul-Philippines is implementing “post-disaster interventions, land accessibility, shelter delivery, community development, capability and of capacity building initiatives for the benefit of the Sendong-affected family-beneficiaries.”
The Society of St. Vincent de Paul (SSVP) has built an initial 50 housing units for typhoon victims from the funds it received from foreign partners, particularly the International Council General in Paris, France and the National Council of SSVP Australia.
SSVP is working hand-in-hand with groups such as the Federation of People’s Sustainable Development Cooperative (FPSDC), the Philippine Obstetrical and Gynecological Society (Foundation), Inc. (POGS), the Julio and Florentina Ledesma Foundation, Inc. (JFLFI), Asian Rural-Urban Development and Peace Institute (ARDEP), the National Government Line Agencies such as the National Housing Authority (NHA), Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD), and the City Government of Cagayan de Oro City for this project.
Last July 17, 2012, the group signed a Memorandum of Agreement (MOA) with partner institutions on the project followed by a groundbreaking ceremony at the 5-hectare property of FPSDC in Brgy. Mambuaya, Cagayan de Oro City for the construction of Co-Op Ville or the Co-Operative Housing & Sustainable Community. (Jandel Posion)
