Representatives of the United Nations Staff Relief Committee for the Philippines led by its Chairperson, Ms. Nerisa Cortez, and Vice Chair, Ms. Emma Dumalag, called on Consul General Mario De Leon, Jr. on March 12 and presented a symbolic check donation of US$30,000 for the Build A Shelter Project (BASP). The actual donation was wired to the Philippine Jesuit Foundation (PJF) on March 17.
The BASP, a project of the Filipino American community in the US Northeast that was launched on November 26, 2013, raises funds for the construction of permanent shelters in the four towns of Hernani, Giporlos and Quinapondan in Eastern Samar and Tanauan in Leyte, which were devastated by super typhoon Yolanda (Haiyan).
The houses will be constructed in partnership with PJF, Simbahang Lingkod Bayan (SLB) and Gawad Kalinga Community Development Foundation, Inc.
Funds for the construction of one village of 36 houses in Barangay Pinasuan in Hernani have already been remitted to GK and actual construction is scheduled to start in April.
BASP is now working on the memoranda of agreement for the construction of its second and third villages.