A homegrown non-government organization in Negros Occidental marked the one-month anniversary of Typhoon Odette’s devastation by launching several projects on a next level on Monday, January 17, after their emergency relief efforts.
Negrense Volunteers for Change Foundation Inc. broke ground on the first of its 100 houses for families whose homes in barangays Nauhang and Cabadiangan in Sipalay City were destroyed by the typhoon, NVC president Millie Kilayko said.
In the construction of houses in their REBUILD program, NVC partners with the Sipalay LGU and the recipients themselves.
“Our donors have given us the resources to provide the GI sheets, plywood and basic construction materials while the LGU undertakes the cutting of lumber from fallen trees and provides carpenters to guide and assist the recipients who will provide the labor component “, KIlayko said.
The 23-square meter two bedroom structure was designed by a team of architects, the lead of whom even donated the first two houses to be constructed, which will serve as a model for the rest, she said.
“What is heart warming is that they refuse public acknowledgment and have requested that I keep their names confidential even as they have committed to oversee the building project,” Kilayko said.
The basic house was sponsored at P25,000 each while the toilets/outhouses were costed separately since some of the recipients have existing materials or have received assistance from their LGUs or other NGOs in the form of GI sheets and plywood, which may be applied to the external structures, she said.
The houses were designed to have ledges around them, which will hold used water containers to be recycled into plots for vegetable growing. The recipients were shortlisted by the LGU but the NVC Team validated and met with every potential recipient until a final list was firmed up, she added.
NVC also launched its RESTORE program to help two communities revive their livelihoods lost to the typhoon.
NVC, from resources mainly provided by upscale slipper brand Havaianas, delivered materials to a talaba (edible oyster) raising association in the town of Ilog.
Technical guidance will be provided by the Office of the Provincial Agriculturist of Negros Occidental Province. The recipient community association also committed to share in the provision of some resources such as bamboo, Kilayko said.
NVC also delivered materials to the typhoon devastated Peace Pond Farmers Association in Binalbagan to reconstruct their vermiculture sheds and revive the project that helps the livelihood of 24 farmers.
A NVC report posted in its social media account said it has served 21,904 families in 18 cities and municipalities in Negros Occidental as well as Dinagat Islands and Siargao.
For provisions, NVC delivered 189,000 servings of Mingo Meals, a nutritious instant porridge with rice, mongo and malunggay as basic ingredients. It has also provided 24,097 liters of water, 84,250 kgs of rice, 95,676 canned goods, 25,678 packs of noodles, and several other types of food and assorted dry goods.
NVC was one of the early responders from the private sector, having hit the ground within a few hours after Typhoon Odette hit Negros Occidental.*