TACLOBAN CITY– A “Filipino-Chinese Friendship Village” will soon rise in Barayong, Palo, Leyte with the construction of 500 houses and five units or 10 classrooms under the Operation: School for the Barrio Project.
Palo Mayor Remedios “Matin” Petilla, in a text message, the 500 houses which cost P40 million project for the Yolanda survivors, will be shouldered by the Federation of Filipino Chinese Chambers of Commerce and Industry, Inc. (FFCCCII) while the ten classrooms will cost P2 million.
President Benigno Aquino III witnessed the signing of the memorandum of agreement (MOA) held in Malacanang Palace.
The signing of the MOA was done with FFCCCII Foundation, Inc. president Dr. Alfonso Siy and Leyte Governor Leopoldo Dominico Petilla.
“I am happy with this partnership,” said Mayor Petilla.
The municipality of Palo has been a recipient of 12 classrooms during her two-term incumbency, under the foundation’s Operation: School for the Barrio Project.
“They are very generous. I am overwhelmed the FFCCCII chose Palo. The permanent housing project is for 500 families. This will start very soon as we are doing the site development of Barayong village,” Petilla added.
The Tacloban-Filipino Chinese Chamber of Commerce, Inc. (TFCCCI) will oversee the construction of the project according to TFCCCI president Jack Uy.
Also present during the MOA signing were Mayor Petilla’s son Department of Energy Secretary Carlos Jericho Petilla; Secretary Mar Roxas of the Department of Interior and Local Government, business magnate Lucio Tan, chairman emeritus of the FFCCCII Foundation, Carlos Legaspi, project coordinator of FFCCCII and other FFCCCI executives.
By: VICKY C. ARNAIZ
