At least 25 people have been killed and 100 more are missing after a landslide struck
a mining village in the southern Philippines. The landslide occurred at dawn Thursday
morning on Mindanao island.
Meanwhile the Catholic Bishops’ Conference of
the Philippines said today it will seek funding for the construction of 1,000 houses
for victims of recent flooding in Mindanao that has claimed more than 1,200 lives
and left hundreds of thousands displaced.
The plan includes construction of
400 permanent homes in Cagayan de Oro City, another 400 transitional homes in Iligan
City and 200 other temporary shelters in Mumaguete City. Father Edwin Gariguez,
executive secretary of the Commission on Social Action, Justice and Peace within the
Catholic Bishops’ Conference of the Philippines, said a start date would depend on
approval of funding.
Government and other groups have also announced plans
to address housing needs in the wake of flooding. Welfare secretary Corazon Soliman
has said the government would prepare an unspecified number of permanent homes for
flood victims now being moved to tents and temporary shelters from schools and Churchs.
The Jesuit-run Ateneo de Manila University has also tabled a plan to build
200 new residences in two flood-affected cities.