Army engineers build shelter for Leyte landslide survivors

From the Philippine News Agency (Jun 22, 2022): Army engineers build shelter for Leyte landslide survivors (By Roel Amazona)

SHELTER. Army engineers start building temporary shelters for landslide survivors in Baybay City, Leyte province. Families displaced by the April 10, 2022 landslides are expected to stay in the shelter while waiting for the completion of permanent houses. (Photo courtesy of 546th Engineering Construction Battalion)

The Philippine Army's 546th Engineering Construction Battalion has started building temporary shelters for families displaced by recent killer landslides in Baybay City, Leyte.

Temporary shelters are being constructed within the two-hectare property in Maganhan village. The Department of Public Works and Highways recently completed the site development.

Army engineers are being assisted by personnel of the Bureau of Fire Protection, Philippine Army, and the Philippine National Police.

“This is not enough, and we need more volunteers to help fast track the construction of the temporary shelters,” said Philippine Army’s 802nd Brigade Commander Col. Noel Vestuir in a phone interview Wednesday.

Volunteers will be supervised by the Department of Social Welfare and Development under the cash for work program.

They will be assigned to do masonry and carpentry works, or prepare food for the workers, Vestuir said.

At least 18 units of temporary houses will rise in the site for landslide survivors in Kantagnos village. These families have been staying in evacuation centers since April 12.

The massive landslide last April 10 killed 67 residents in Kantagnos while 50 others remained missing.

The village has been declared by the city government as danger zone and residents are no longer allowed to return to their old settlement.

At least 145 families or 524 individuals from Kantagnos village currently stay at the classrooms of Baybay City Senior High School while waiting for the completion of temporary shelters.

Aside from Kantagnos, other evacuees are from the villages of Mailhi (877 individuals), Bunga (12 individuals), Hipusngo (17 individuals), Bubon (five persons), Maypatag (106 residents), and Villa Mag-aso (38 individuals).

Residents from Mailhi stay at the Baybay City National High School and the rest have been taking shelter in their respective village halls.

https://www.pna.gov.ph/articles/1177277