Storm victims: No transfer until we see Pope | Inquirer

Storm victims: No transfer until we see Pope

By: - Correspondent /
/ 09:00 AM October 09, 2014

yolanda Refugees

AP FILE PHOTO

TACLOBAN CITY, Philippines—Families displaced by Typhoon “Yolanda” are staying put in tents until January instead of heading for halfway houses in the northern part of the city because they want to be with Pope Francis, local officials said.

“They themselves do not like to be transferred at this point. They told us that they want to see first the Pope before they will be transferred,” said Mayor Alfred Romualdez.

Article continues after this advertisement

Francis is expected to arrive at the city’s Daniel Z. Romualdez Airport on Jan. 17, 2015, and visit nearby Palo, another typhoon-devastated town, passing through San Jose District, where the families occupying tents are found.

FEATURED STORIES

The district is the area hardest hit by Yolanda in the city.

The national government had asked the city government to transfer those still living in tents and bunkhouses to transitional or permanent shelters on or before the first anniversary of Yolanda on Nov. 8.

Transitional houses serve as halfway homes for survivors who lost their houses.

Romualdez said the city government could not force the families to transfer to the transitional houses despite having a deadline to do so.

Article continues after this advertisement

At least 800 families need to be transferred to New Kawayan, Sto. Niño and Tagpuro, where the transitional houses had been built. The city social welfare and development office, however, cited a lower figure of 528 families from San Jose.

“Almost every day, there are families living in tents that are being transferred,” Romualdez said. “I don’t think we can meet the deadline,” he said.

Article continues after this advertisement

The city government started to move families in July. Currently, more than 200 families are staying in transitional houses made of bamboo, nipa and coconut lumber and each has a floor area of 18 square meters.

Romualdez said he wanted the complete transfer of families living in tents since the rainy season had already started.

Your subscription could not be saved. Please try again.
Your subscription has been successful.

Subscribe to our daily newsletter

By providing an email address. I agree to the and acknowledge that I have read the .

MOST READ
globalnation
globalnation
globalnation
business
globalnation
globalnation
TAGS: Palo, Pope Francis

Your subscription could not be saved. Please try again.
Your subscription has been successful.

Subscribe to our newsletter!

By providing an email address. I agree to the and acknowledge that I have read the .

© Copyright 1997-2025 | All Rights Reserved

This is an information message

We use cookies to enhance your experience. By continuing, you agree to our use of cookies.