At least 58 families, who were displaced by typhoon Sendong in late 2011 and who are now residing at a low-cost housing site in Dumaguete City, will receive free electric meters and individual installation and connection to their homes.

This after the Negros Oriental 2 Electric Cooperative switched on the electric line that will power the houses of the families living at the Caritas Village Shelter Phase I in Barangay Bajumpandan, Dumaguete Friday.

Noreco 2 general manager Dionefred Macahig, Dumaguete Mayor Manuel Sagarbarria, Vice Mayor Woodrow Maquiling Sr., Rep. George Arnaiz (Neg. Or., 2nd District) Bajumpandan Barangay Captain Orlando Enquig, kagawads Juancho Gallarde and Noel Ramirez, and Fr. Burton Villarmente of the Social Action Center of the Diocese of Dumaguete were among those present during the switch-on ceremony.

Residents expressed gratitude that after a long wait since they had transferred to Bajumpandan, they can now have electricity in their homes.

The residents had slugged it out for years without electricity although several months back, the Watts of Love international non-profit organization had donated solar-powered lighting systems to them.

With the energization of the Caritas Village Shelter Phase I, Noreco 2 promised that each house will receive some P2,000 worth of materials for individual electrical connection, Syril Repe of the City Hall said.

The families already have individual water connections now, he added.

The Caritas shelter phases I and II, both in Bajumpandan, were built in mid-2012 and a joint project of the Catholic Church and Dumaguete City government.

A total of 165 families have availed of the free housing provided by the first-ever joint Catholic Church-LGU undertaking for “Sendong” victims in Dumaguete.

The Catholic Bishops’ Conference of the Philippines-National Secretariat for Social Action and Caritas, through the Diocese of Dumaguete and its Social Action Center, built the houses for “Sendong” victims, and the city government provided for the lot for both project phases.

Villarmente said the beneficiaries are constantly being reminded of their responsibilities to live in a Christ-centered community as what they had learned from in the 14 sessions of values formation that was a pre-requisite for each recipient family.

The beneficiaries were also required to pour in 200 hours per family of sweat equity in the construction of the houses so they will learn to value the shelters given to them for free, he added.*JFP

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