TACLOBAN CITY – Leyte Governor Leopoldo Dominico Petilla welcomes the partnership forged with the Federation of Filipino Chinese Chamber of Commerce and Industry Inc. (FFCCCII) for the construction 500 houses and five barrio schools in Palo town, one of the hardest-hit areas of supertyphoon Yolanda.
“We are thankful that we have the Filipino Chinese Chamber of Commerce and Industry ready to help us. Indeed, even before the typhoon came in November, FCCCI is already our partner in building schools and other similarly important projects in the province of Leyte,” Petilla said.
The governor signed a memorandum of agreement together with FFCCCII president Alfonso Siy in Malacanang with President Benigno Aquino witnessing the signing.
The governor added that it takes years to complete a permanent shelter program for typhoon victims. However, a “ready response from the private sector and foreign organizations, pushes the action even faster and further.”
Under the agreement, 500 houses will be built on a five-hectare lot in Barangay Barayong with a project cost of P40 million.
Five barrio schools with 10 classrooms at a cost of P2 million will also be constructed.
Funding for the projects came from FFCCCII, the FFCCCII Foundation Inc., Federation of Filipino-Chinese Associations of the Philippines, World News Daily, Filipino-Chinese Amity Club, Overseas Chinese Alumni Association of the Philippines, Filipino-Chinese Shin Lian Association, and the Philippine Chinese Chamber of Commerce and Industry Inc.
The area will be called the Filipino-Chinese Friendship Village and is expected to be completed in five months.
FFCCCII also distributed recently more than 50,000 relief packs, providing welding sets, fishing boats, water purifying systems, among other resources, in calamity-hit areas together with six other organizations, it was learned.
Department of Energy Secretary Carlos Jericho Petilla, Department of the Interior and Local Government Secretary Mar Roxas, Palo Mayor Remedios Petilla and FFCCCII chairman emeritus Lucio Tan also witnessed the signing.
By: AHLETTE C. REYES
