(PASTRANA, Leyte) More than seven years after the grueling impact of Typhoon Haiyan in Leyte, 50 more homes for survivor families are soon to rise in Barangay District IV, Pastrana through the partnership of Habitat for Humanity Philippines, Lions Clubs International, and the municipal government.
Present in the Groundbreaking Ceremony last April 23, 2021 were Pastrana Mayor Maritess Cayaco-Marcos, Habitat Philippines Chief Development Officer Lala Baldelovar, Lions Clubs MD 301-B2 District Governor Lion Jude Abenoja, and representatives from the local government and the community to mark the start of construction. This housing project aims to fulfill the commitment of Lions Clubs International, through the Lions Clubs International Foundation, to build 200 disaster-resilient, permanent homes in Leyte to relocate the typhoon-affected families living in transitional shelters for years.
Since the Habitat-Lions partnership started in 2014 under Habitat’s Rebuild Philippines Program, 150 families have already moved into a much safer and decent home and have developed thriving communities with the support of the local government. The first 100 families were relocated in the Cali Site, Tacloban City in 2015 and 2019, while 50 houses were turned over to beneficiaries in Pastrana in September 2020. Habitat Philippines and Lions Clubs International target to complete the last tranche of the reconstruction program in the next 14 to 16 months.
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About Habitat for Humanity Philippines
Driven by the vision that everyone needs a decent place to live, Habitat for Humanity began in 1976 as a grassroots effort. The Christian housing organization has since become a leading global non-profit working in nearly 70 countries. In the Philippines since 1988, Habitat for Humanity has helped more than 150,000 families have safe and decent home, built and empowered over 200 communities nationwide, and supported over 400,000 households to improve their homes through financial services. Through donating, volunteering, or advocating for affordable housing, everyone can help families achieve the strength, stability, and self-reliance they need to build better lives for themselves. Through shelter, we empower. To learn more, donate or volunteer, visit www.habitat.org.ph.
About Lions Clubs International and About Lions Clubs International Foundation
Lions are a global force for good. Lions Clubs International is the largest service club organization in the world, with more than 1.4 million members in 48,000 clubs serving 200 countries and geographic areas worldwide. Since our founding in 1917, we have been proving that where there’s a need, there’s a Lion.
We also help our global neighbors through the support of our Foundation, Lions Clubs International Foundation (LCIF). LCIF has awarded more than US$1.1 billion in grants to support Lions’ humanitarian projects. In 2020, LCIF donated millions of dollars in emergency grant funds during the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic, providing critical supplies and equipment to hospitals, medical clinics and emergency management systems, including front-line health care workers and first responders.
About the Municipality of Pastrana
Approximately 27 kilometers away from Tacloban City, Pastrana is a 5th class municipality in the coastal province of Leyte. It is composed of 29 barangays with agriculture as the main source of local economy. With limited Internal Revenue Allotment, the LGU of Pastrana engaged with national government agencies and private sector to provide shelter to the marginalized and less privileged families, especially those affected by the Typhoon Haiyan and are still in transitional houses. In May 2016, Habitat for Humanity Philippines, through the support of San Miguel Foundation, partnered with the local government to build 120 safe and decent homes in District IV for vulnerable families affected by the Super Typhoon Yolanda. The LGU allocated 4.3 hectares of land for the project and facilitated the support of the National Housing Authority and the Department of Public Works and Highways for site development.
