A Safer Home for Slum Dwellers in Metro Manila

Build Change has started conducting awareness-raising activities in several barangays in Makati City in partnership with the local government, particularly the Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Office (DRRMO). Our team facilitated workshop and awareness-raising sessions for the DRRMO and LGU staff on the impact of disasters, particularly earthquake and typhoon, and the importance of disaster-resistant construction. We also participated in the Metro Manila Shake Drill held on June 22, which aims to promote a culture of preparedness among Metro Manila residents for a possible 7.2 magnitude movement of the West Valley Fault. Build Change has also started conducting assessment of several houses in one barangay in Makati. Mario, a retired military personnel and one of the barangay zone leaders, was among the homeowners who volunteered to have his house assessed. His family originally plans to do minor housing upgrades but eventually realized that a retrofit (structural strengthening) would be necessary after learning the weak characteristics of his house - lack of columns to support the house, and wide openings (among others) which are risky during typhoons and earthquake. Considering that his house is close to the West Valley Fault, he wants to ensure the safety of his family when the earthquake happens. He is now exploring financing options he can avail of to enable him to retrofit the soonest possible. In the coming weeks, Build Change will continue to evaluate more houses in the community, while at the same time exploring different financing options to help the identified homeowners to carry out the retrofit. Through your support, we will be able to reach out to more people like Mario and provide them with technical services which may likewise be unavailable in the community or which could be expensive. Our work definitely gets more and more exciting and we can't wait to share more progress with you in the succeeding months!