‘Core shelters’ turned over to ‘Odette’-affected families in Boljoon

AROUND 100 families from a riverside barangay in Boljoon, southern Cebu who lost their homes after typhoon Odette more than a year ago were able to receive “Core Progressive Shelters” courtesy of the Archdiocese of Cebu and its social action arm.

The archdiocese, through its social action arm Cebu Caritas Inc., turned over 100 core shelters in Sitio Kalumboyan, Barangay Granada to selected beneficiaries on Valentine’s Day, Feb. 14, 2023.

The housing project dubbed “Balay Caritas: Puloy-anan sa Gugma ug Paglaum” is part of the rehabilitation phase of the Typhoon Odette Response of Cebu Caritas. This effort is co-funded by Caritas Internationalis, Caritas Philippines and other partner organizations.

Aside from the 100 families living in Barangay Granada, 35 on-site Core Transitional Shelters were also turned over to beneficiaries from five mountain barangays in Boljoon on the same occasion.

Cebu Auxiliary Bishop Ruben Labajo presided over the mass and led the blessing of the core shelters together with Caritas Philippines executive director Fr. Antonio Labiao, Jr., Cebu Caritas president Fr. Alex Cola Jr. and other visiting priests.

In his homily, Bishop Labajo said, “This Valentine’s Day, it is more than a flower or rose you received, you received a house, you received a home and a community. We thank God for showing us concretely his goodness and love through these shelters.”

Distribution of certificates and a symbolic turnover of shelter keys were also done after the blessing.

On behalf of the Municipal Government of Boljoon, Mayor Joie Genesse Derama expressed his gratitude to the Catholic Church through its social action arms (Caritas Internationalis, Caritas Philippines and Cebu Caritas) for choosing the town as beneficiary of the shelter project.

In his message, Labiao also congratulated those involved in the project.

“We are very grateful to you. We would like to thank you for this tripartite project among the church, LGU (local government unit) and beneficiaries. Mas makahulugan ito dahil ikaw ay bahagi ng paggawa (It is more meaningful because you are part of the making). We do not only see here houses but hopefully in the future a chapel and a resilient community. With this, we can face any disaster because ‘kaya natin (we can do it),’” Labiao added.

Caritas Philippines, a member of Caritas Asia and Caritas Internationalis, is the humanitarian, development and advocacy arm of the Catholic Church in the Philippines. (JKV, PR)