The Unfinished Business of Resettling Yolanda Survivors

Two years and ten months after the onslaught of Typhoon Yolanda (international name Haiyan) in the Philippines, despite concerted efforts by the government, civil society and international organizations, significant challenges remain in the recovery and rehabilitation of the affected communities and areas. Among others, the rebuilding of houses for Yolanda survivors have particularly been slow and problematic.

To begin with, government has very weak capacity to build back better the houses that have been destroyed. Out of the 1.1 million houses destroyed, government only committed to build 20 percent or 205,128 houses. According to the National Economic and Development Authority, only 9% or 19,330 out of 205,128 houses have been completed as of March 2016. And another 40% or 87,405 proposed housing units have not yet even started.  There are also concerns with livelihood options and basic services because many of the survivors have become poorer than before Typhoon Yolanda.

In Tacloban City, resettlement processes are admittedly on a slower pace but far more advance compared to other areas equally devastated by the super typhoon. The City Government of Tacloban, in collaboration with the National Housing Authority, began the construction of permanent houses in September 2014. To date, about 1,400 families have been moved to these sites. As the construction of permanent houses move forward, several serious issues and challenges are increasingly evident. Absence of essential services, such as water, power, education, health care and livelihoods among others, remain a big issue while transfers of families have already begun.