Leyte Landslide

[omad]

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Vatican's Holy Thursday collection goes to Leyte mudslide victims

ROME -- Pope Benedict XVI announced Thursday that money collected during the Holy Thursday Mass would be used to rebuild houses for victims of a February mudslide in the Philippines that buried the town of Guinsaugon, So. Leyte. and killed more than 1,000 people.



I hope the money is coursed thru the proper channel and not thru politicians.. just my two cents..

[jamesuy2002]

Vatican's Holy Thursday collection goes to Leyte mudslide victims

ROME -- Pope Benedict XVI announced Thursday that money collected during the Holy Thursday Mass would be used to rebuild houses for victims of a February mudslide in the Philippines that buried the town of Guinsaugon, So. Leyte. and killed more than 1,000 people.



I hope the money is coursed thru the proper channel and not thru politicians.. just my two cents..

klaro jud nga gibulsa na sa mayor ug laing mga politicians ang mga cash donations para sa mga victims. Nya most of the other donations, gi stock ra sa warehouse sa mayor ug sa congressman.

[grabehbebe]

Mudslide survivors to get housing units from Gawad Kalinga

First posted 04:15am (Mla time) April 17, 2006
By Jani Arnaiz
Inquirer
http://news.inq7.net/regions/index.p...story_id=72773

ST. BERNARD, Southern Leyte -- Restless for almost two months, survivors of the Guinsaugon mudslides can heave a sigh of relief after the first stone was cast on Palm Sunday for the first 100 housing units at a 5.6-hectare relocation site in Barangay Magbagakay, this town.

The units are part of the 200 houses that the Filipino-Chinese Chamber of Commerce (FCCC) pledged through the Gawad Kalinga (GK) program.

The Philippine National Red Cross will build 102 more units at the site for the other survivors and relatives of the victims.
About 1,000 people were killed when a portion of Mt. Kan-abag buried the entire village of Guinsaugon on Feb. 17.

At the groundbreaking ceremony on Feb. 9, GK executive director Antonio Meloto said that although his group had yet to receive money from the FCCC, it proceeded with the construction as a "challenge" to the FCCC to “make good its pledges."

He said the program had not yet encountered any problem of where to get the construction materials. Many businessmen who wanted to help the victims have extended credit to the group, he said.

He said the 100 units would be finished in a month.
Gov. Rosette Lerias, who attended the groundbreaking ceremony, said a holistic community would stand in the site.

"This includes a livelihood component, food production, health and environment and other amenities of a complete community," she told the Inquirer.

Lerias said P9.2 million had been spent to develop the site, including leveling the field, making roads and preparing areas for a school building, day care center, health center, barangay hall and playground.
An evacuation center will be built "for any eventuality," she said.

Water and drainage systems, and electricity supply will soon be installed at the site, Lerias said.
Meloto said the Gawad Kalinga, which has been a partner of the province since the 2003 landslide that killed more than 150 on Panaon Island, would continue to help Southern Leyte not only in housing but also in food production.

"The strong partnership of Governor Lerias and Congressman (Roger) Mercado since 2003 has helped in the success of GK projects in the province. For this alone, we are happy to stay on and focus more on the needs of the province," he said.

Meloto announced that a seven-day "GK Bayanihan Challenge," a competition among peers or groups who could build a beautiful unit at the shortest time at the Guinsaugon relocation site, would be launched on April 25.

The contest is like the popular GMA Network TV show "Extra Challenge," he said. Each group will be given materials for one housing unit and those who can finish a beautiful house in the shortest time will win cash prizes.

The participants will take care of their own provisions and other needs, and a number of corporations in Manila have already agreed to participate, Meloto said.

[omad]

updates re the landslide victims and their relatives, where are they now?
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Monday, July 31, 2006
Landslide survivors await promises of help

WELL-MEANING groups and individuals have raised around P2 million for the foundation organized for the Guinsaugon landslide survivors studying in Cebu City.

They, however, are wondering where are the others who pledged to help shortly after the tragedy hit the community in St. Bernard town, Southern Leyte last February.

“Ang uban nakalimot na man unsa ang Guinsaugon. Na-amnesia ba. Kaniadto ni-pledge nga motabang pero wala man (Some people have forgotten about Guinsaugon, including some who pledged to help),” said Tinago Barangay Captain Joel Garganera.

A wall of mud and boulders crashed down on Guinsaugon last February after a portion of a mountain collapsed after several days of rain. The landslide wiped out the farming village and killed over a thousand residents.

Garganera, who is also from St. Bernard, was instrumental in drumming up support for the 16 students, three of whom graduated from college last June.

He met the students aboard a ship on their way to Guinsaugon a day after the tragedy. He decided to gather them all and to seek help.

full story
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