A year after Typhoon Haiyan struck the country, The France-Philippines United Action (FPUA), a consortium of leading French companies operating in the Philippines, has reaffirmed its commitment to the rebuilding efforts for survivors of the disaster.
In line with President Benigno Aquino III’s approval of the P167.9-billion reconstruction plan for the Visayas, the FP-UA marks one year of coordinated relief efforts from the French private sector and is set to complete its two reconstruction projects in Northern Cebu early next year.
In partnership with Habitat for Humanity, the FP-UA is building 74 disaster-resilient houses on 5,488-square-meter site in Barangay Agujo, Daanbantayan. Specially designed by Architect Ed Florentino, each house can withstand up to intensity 8 earthquakes and 275-300 kilometer-per-hour winds. FP-UA member Lafarge, a global leader in sustainable construction solutions, provided the construction materials used for the houses. A model house was unveiled and turned over to a beneficiary earlier in May.
The FP-UA is building another 148 houses in Barangay Paypay, also in Daanbantayan, in partnership with the French and the Philippine Red Cross and Habitat for Humanity. The permanent houses will have access to safe water, proper sanitation, and electrical power supply, and beneficiary families will be covered by a comprehensive livelihood program. FP-UA members Total, Sanofi, and la Caisse des Dépôts, collaborated with the Red Cross for the project.
Altogether, the FP-UA managed to raise US$ 613,700 from different French companies which were redirected towards the two reconstruction projects.
Constructing the houses, meanwhile, is just the first of many steps towards building a disaster-resilient future for residents of Daanbantayan, and the French business community remains steadfast in its commitment to help Filipinos rebuild their lives. “We’re one with these communities as they stand back on their feet and rebuild stronger foundations for the future,” says Lafarge Philippines President and Country CEO Don Lee, who also serves as FP-UA chair.
The FP-UA and the French Red Cross are now conducting a community needs assessment of the first site, and will create an integrated community development program aimed at restoring livelihood for the affected residents.
The FP-UA was launched to address coordination and communication issues and improve the efficiency of French-led rehabilitation efforts for victims of Typhoon Haiyan, which claimed over 6,000 lives and affected 14 million more. In the face of massive devastation last year, the French Ambassador to the Philippines, His Excellency Gilles Garachon, convened representatives from leading French companies, the Conseillers du Commerce Exterieur, and the French Chamber of Commerce to form the consortium, which is also tasked to encourage optimal allocation of goods, define key evaluation areas, provide various opportunities for involvements, and communicate all these efforts to the public.
MAP OF DAANBANTAYAN, ISLAND OF CEBU, PHILIPPINES
| Site 1 | Site 2 | |
| Location | Barangay Agujo, Daanbantayan, Cebu Island | Barangay Paypay, Daanbantayan, Cebu Island |
| Land Size | 5,400 m2 | 13,500 m2 |
| Leading Donors | Lafarge, Schneider, Commanderie de Bordeaux, Megacem, Archetype, Manille Bienvenue | Sanofi, Caisse des Dépôts, Total, French Red Cross |
| Leading NGO | Habitat for Humanity | French Red Cross, Philippine Red Cross, Habitat for Humanity |
| Number of homes | 74 | 148 |
| Additional Facilities | Multi-Purpose Center | A Clinic and Multi-Purpose Center |
| Total Budget | USD 500,000 | USD 1M |
| Progress | 56 houses completed | Construction in progress |
| Expected Completion | December 2014 | June 2015 |
AT A GLANCE: THE RECONSTRUCTION PROJECTS IN BARANGAYS AGUJO AND PAYPAY
Click here to have a look at the video that was showed during the FP-UA press conference on November 6. It presents the achievements of France-Philippines United Action after only one year of existence; re-building houses and the lives of families affected by typhoon Yolanda in Daanbantayan, Northern Cebu.
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