200 free storm-proof shelters for typhoon Yolanda survivors in Bogo

Hans Sy, SM Prime Holdings president, (4th from left) shares a light moment with Bogo Mayor Celestino Martinez Jr. (right) and (from left), Eloisa Fernan and SM vice president for VisMin Marissa Fernan, before the start of the groundbreaking and laying of a time capsule for the housing project in Bogo City.

SM Group will build a village with 200 typhoon-proof concrete houses for survivors of supertyphoon Yolanda in barangay Polambato, Bogo City under the “Adopt a Barangay Project.”

“We choose areas affected by the storm that have not been equally recognized,” said Hans T. Sy, president of SM Prime Holdings Inc.

Sy, together with Bogo City Mayor Celestino Martinez Jr. and Cebu Vice Gov. Agnes Magpale, led yesterday’s groundbreaking of the P50-million SM Cares Housing project.

The houses will be built on a one-hectare lot donated by the heirs of Wenceslao and Margarita Briones Fernan.

“It has been my mother’s dream to provide housing for the farmers here in Bogo City which is my hometown,” said Marissa Fernan, SM Prime Holdings senior vice president for Visayas and Mindanao. The donated lot was owned by her grandparents.

Sy said construction of the 200 houses will start in two weeks and will be completed in nine months. Each row house will have a concrete roof and high ceiling, proper ventilation and will be ready for utilities.

The village will have a five-meter wide road network, a concrete perimeter fence, a community center and a basketball court.

“These houses will be for free. It’s not just housing, but we are also building a sustainable community,” Sy said.

The SM Group earlier committed P100 million in aid for Yolanda victims through relief operations, rehabilitation of schools, churches, community centers, and medical missions.

They will build a total of 1,000 housing units in the Visayas, including Palo, Leyte and Samar, and Panay Island.

“It is time for typhoon victims to move on and forward,” Sy said.

Bogo City Mayor Martinez Jr., said the project has given him hope to pursue dream projects that were washed out by typhoon Yolanda.

“I was happy when I was informed that Mr. Hans Sy was coming to Bogo City. I was unable to sleep for two nights,” Martinez said.

Typhoon survivors in the coastal part of barangay Polambato will get priority in the houses.

Cebu Vice Gov. Magpale said the residents of Bogo “are lucky because aside from the free lot, there are also free 200 houses that will be constructed.”

Martinez said private benefactors of four other barangays are waiting for the go-signal to start the “Adopt A Barangay Project” in La Paz, Cayang, Don Pedro or Guadalupe, and Libertad.

Sunshine Corner Ministry pledged to build 120 houses in barangay La Paz while Caritas promised to build 50 more.

The Light for Jesus Community Foundation Inc. will provide 30 houses in barangay Cayang while Couples for Christ promised build 80 to 100 houses in either barangay Don Pedro or Guadalupe.

An international organization also committed to build 50 houses in barangay Libertad.