A total of 100 beneficiaries from barangays Cartagena, Cayhagan, and Maricalum, all in Sipalay City received their shelter houses from the Adventist Development and Relief Agency (ADRA), through a ceremonial hand-over on July 20, at Sitio Tabunan, Brgy. Cayhagan in the city.
This is part of the Shelter Assistance Program (SAP) of ADRA and Typhoon Rai Response of Japan Platform (JPF) in helping affected families gradually bounce back. Though the Build Back Better program, it aims to rebuild the houses of the affected families to ensure a safe living environment and to reduce the negative impact of future disasters.
Nanay Merelyn Belleza, one of the beneficiaries from Barangay Cayhagan, was filled with emotion after receiving her shelter house. She also shared her experience during and after typhoon Odette, highlighting in a one-on-one talk with the information office staff that along with her husband and their children, they were just living in a makeshift house after the typhoon, hence, the difficulties to bounce back slowly. Nanay Merlyn expressed her appreciation to the project funder.
The 2nd Secretary of the Economic Section of the Embassy of Japan in the Philippines Tomohiro Matsubara, ADRA Japan Country Director Yasuki Aoki, Program Director of ADRA Japan Kazuhiro Koide, ADRA Philippines Country Director Tom Pignon, and ADRA Philippines Program Director Jerry Requillo were among the guests from ADRA who joined the ceremonial hand-over.
The Provincial Disaster Management Program Division Dr. Zeaphard Gerhart Caelian also joined the event, as well as City Administrator Philip Zamora, Executive Assistant to the city mayor Engr. Praem Mediodia, Human Resource Management Division Head Severino Hablado, City Tourism Officer Jerick Lacson, acting Community Affairs Officer Gretchel Gela, representatives from City Social Welfare and Development Office, and the councils of Barangays Cartagena, Cayhagan, and Maricalum.*
