TWO years after the Supertyphoon “Yolanda” (international name: Haiyan) devastated Leyte, 77 families living in a resettlement area in Tacloban City will finally have a regular supply of drinking water, thanks to a $300,000 (about P14 million) donation from the Nigerian government.
Social Welfare Secretary Dinky Soliman and Nigerian Ambassador Buba Tekune led on Thursday the inauguration of the “Water Supply Support Project” for Yolanda-affected families residing in Ridgeview Park.
The project will provide potable water through on-site water source development, rain harvesting and water filtration, according to the Department of Social Welfare and Development.
The International Organization for Migration (IOM), a longtime partner of the DSWD in disaster response, was also involved in the project, the DSWD said.
“This donation is a gift and an offer of friendship from the people of Nigeria to the Filipino people,” Tekune said.
The diplomat recognized the resiliency of “Yolanda” survivors, saying the city barely showed signs of devastation just two years after the disaster.
Acknowledging the assistance of the Nigerian government, Soliman said there would no longer be a problem of water rationing in the housing area.
When all the houses in the area are ready for occupancy, the bunkhouses and other transitional shelters will be closed down, she said.
“We will be moving the people from the bunkhouses here because we will have water and electricity connections. We hope to do this before Nov. 15 for all those who have completed their documents,” Soliman said.
But an advocacy group for Yolanda victims said the secretary was painting a false picture of the situation in the temporary housing area.
Marissa Cabaljao, secretary general of People Surge, said there were still around 400 families living in temporary bunkhouses. She described relocation efforts as “snail-paced,” adding that this had taken toll on the health of the typhoon victims.