MARAWI’S BAHAY PAG ASA

The Chinese Filipino Business Club, Inc. in cooperation with Tarlac Heritage Foundation initiated a project in support of President Duterte’s vision of providing immediate Shelter & Accommodation for residents displaced by war in Marawi.

A community of 50 huts measuring 4m x 4m made of bamboo and sawali were neatly built on a 1.2-hectare land situated at Bito Buadi, Itowa village and named Bahay Pagasa (House of Hope).

On his 6th visit to Marawi last October 2, President Duterte checked the housing units built upon the initiative of Chinese Filipino Business Club, Inc. (CFBCI) whose top officers donated the housing project to the President.

Each unit has a floor area of 64 square meters, powered by solar electricity from solar panels installed by CFBCI at the site. A water tank with a capacity of 5,000 liters will be provided from where residents could draw potable water. Communal toilets and bathrooms for males and females were also built.

A community center was constructed for recreational activities of the evacuees mounted with a 54-inch television powered by solar electricity.

CFBCI funded the construction of the huts, along with Tarlac Heritage Foundation, a nongovernment organization involved mainly in preservation of heritage structures in the province of Tarlac which is also involved in charity work.

Some of the beneficiaries were families of soldiers and militiamen who fought to liberate Marawi.

Almost half of the land was turned into a vegetable garden named “Hardin ng Lunas” tended by evacuees prior to the construction of the huts.