BASEY, Samar- The United Nation Development Programme (UNDP) and its funding donor the Korean International Cooperation Agency (KOICA) turn over their projects in this town.
The permanent housing unit is located in Barangay New San Agustin and will benefit 55 families living along the riverbank in Brgy Palaypay.
The beneficiaries are expected to move in to their new homes once construction of all the units are finished.
Aiza Barraquio, one of the recipients and homeowners president, said that she is grateful to the housing assistance given to them by the two agencies as she expressed her gratitude to the local government unit for providing support by donating the land where the housing units were constructed.
“Without the coordination between UNDP, KOICA and the local government, maybe this wouldn’t happen,” said Barraquio.
UNDP Country Director Titon Mitra said that he is happy that the housing units that they have donated could provide comfort and security to the beneficiaries, especially during a calamity.
“If you will see the design and the materials used, this really is a wonderful building. Knowing what you have gone through and I can see that this is where you will be living, it gives me great pleasure and happiness,” Mitra said.
Mitra also expressed thanks to KOICA for providing them the fund used in the construction of the housing units and the beneficiaries who contributed their help through their sweat equity.
For the part of the local government unit, Mayor Igmedio Junjie Ponferrada expressed his deep appreciation to both to UNDP and KOICA for helping their town attain the projects.
KOICA and UNDP also funded the construction of an evacuation center in Brgy. Canmanila that can accommodate 250 individuals.
“The LGU cannot afford to finance the construction of this kind of projects because of budget constraints. We are thankful that we have UNDP and KOICA that provided us the needed shelter assistance,” Ponferrada said.
Aside from the permanent housing units and evacuation center, KOICA also funded the reconstruction of skills training center of Basey that is located in the town proper and the P14 million worth sanitary landfill.
(ROEL T. AMAZONA)
