ZAMBOANGA CITY (MindaNews/09 August) – Two hundred houses on stilts for Sama de Laut families will be built through bayanihan (communal effort) led by the International Organization for Migration (IOM) and the local government.
The Sama de Laut families were among the thousands of residents who were displaced during the standoff in September last year between members of the Moro National Liberation Front loyal to founding chair Nur Misuari and government forces.
They are presently staying in tents along R.T. Lim Boulevard.
City information officer Sheila Belen Covarrubias said the bayanihan build challenge was launched on Wednesday but actual construction will start August 11.
Covarrubias said the 200 houses on stilts will be constructed at Sitio Buggoc in Barangay Kasanyangan.
She said various civic organizations, private institutions and other stakeholders have pledged to help build the houses.
She said that under the program the IOM will provide the housing materials while the build-partners will provide the labor component.
Covarrubias added that the estimated labor cost is P10,000 per unit, which will be equally divided among five laborers, who will work for seven days at a daily cost of P280.
She said the name of partner-organizations and individuals will be indicated in the units they helped build and will be acknowledged in appropriate forums in recognition of their contributions.
She said the primary purpose of the project is to decongest the R.T. Lim Boulevard and provide culturally sensitive and disaster-resilient houses to the beneficiaries at the shortest time possible through bayanihan, a Filipino tradition which refers to the spirit of communal unity and cooperation.
She added the project also hopes to engage non-government players who can provide manual, moral and financial support in the construction of the temporary shelters. (MindaNews)