48 PWDs to benefit from shelter project in northern Cebu
The Bohol family gratefully walks inside their new home. Their son Willance, a child with visual impairment, has been chosen as one of the recipients of a new house in Barangay Cayang, Bogo City.
Willance was one of the 48 persons with disabilities who received houses through a shelter project, “Rebuilding Lives, Restoring Hope in Cebu for Persons with Disabilities and their families who were affected by the Typhoon Yolanda.”
It is initiated by the Resources for the Blind Inc. (RBI), a non-government Christian organization serving blind people all over the Philippines, and CBM, an international development organization committed to improving the quality of life of persons with disabilities in the poorest countries of the world. It was also supported by the City Government of Bogo, which donated the land for the relocation site.
The project started last April 2016 with the assessment of beneficiaries. The construction of single detached houses in Bogo started in June 2016, while for the duplex houses, it started on Jan. 27 this year.
The project aims to provide safe, accessible, and resilient houses for persons with disabili- ties and other vulnerable sectors of society.
Each unit has accessibility features, including ramps and universal design restrooms, and follows the 16-minimum requirements in building safe and accessible shelters.
During the turnover ceremony of the 13 duplex houses last June 23, Rainer Guetler, CBM– Asia South East regional director, asked the community to “unite and form groups” that can advocate for their rights and interests.
The event was attended by RBI executives and staff, namely, executive director Arminia Mojica, chairman of the board of trustees (BOT) Goodwill Mercado-Lansang, BOT member Decelin Miguel, and RBI Yolanda team headed by project director Joy C. Fedelis, project coordinator Chesa Romares, and field project supervisor Engr. Joseriz Mora.
Vice Mayor Maria Cielo Martinez said that it has been the City’s thrust to continue working with partners to “improve and empower the lives of persons with disabilities.”
RBI and CBM are working together to build a total of 48 shelters in San Remigio town, San Francisco in Camotes Island, and in Bogo City.