TACLOBAN CITY- Three towns in Eastern Samar that sustained major damages when super typhoon ‘Yolanda” hit the region in 2013 received evacuation centers from the United Nation Development Programme (UNDP) and European Union (EU) under their Project Recovery.
Receiving the facilities which could withstand typhoon of at least 300 kph were the towns of Balangkayan, Hernani and Quinapondan, three areas in Eastern Samar that sustained major damages due to Yolanda, considered the world’s strongest typhoon to hit inland.
UNDP deputy country director Enrico Gaveglia and EU programme officer Caroline Maningo led in the turnover of the facilities to the officials of the three towns on Thursday (March 16).
The community evacuation centers are designed and constructed to withstand a 300 kph wind velocity, integrates water, sanitation and hygiene facilities, and fitted with solar panels and a generator set.
The facilities could also be used by the local government units for any public functions.
Maningo said that the EU are thankful to have given opportunity to help areas affected by Yolanda and are confident that the structures could withstand natural calamities like typhoons that may hit the three areas.
For Gaveglia, the evacuation centers could be important assets of the LGU that they could use to help the communities.
Under the Project Recover, the EU and the UNDP has donated P508 million to areas devastated by Yolanda.
The fund was used in recovery programs such as employment and livelihood opportunities including on fish and seaweed processing, food production and handling, and sustainable agricultural management, construction of housing units, evacuation centers and providing search and rescue equipment and facilities to the local government units.
(ROEL T. AMAZONA)
