IOM and UNFPA join forces to improve Health, Protection and Welfare Access in Ormoc City The rehabilitation of a “3 in 1 Building” will give communities better access to health, police protection, and social services Yesterday in a ceremonial handover, IOM together with the United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA) transferred the operation and ownership of a “3 in 1 Building” named Doña Felisa Mejia District Facility to the Ormoc City Government. The building was completely rehabilitated a year after Typhoon Haiyan swept across western Leyte. The facility will aim to serve 9 barangays, in the areas of health, police protection, and social services. The repair is positive news to the communities, and their excitement was seen throughout the ceremony. This project was launched by Ormoc’s previous administration and was designed to facilitate three essential departments namely the social welfare-, the local police-, and the health department. Envisioned as a One-Stop-Shop Program, the infrastructure houses these three departments with priority mostly to address barangay community level concerns that cut across the needed services.
Conrad Navidad, IOM’s National Officer giving remarks during the ceremony ©IOM 2015
Ribbon cutting ceremony of the “3 in 1 Building” Doña Felisa Mejia District Facility ©IOM 2015
The ceremony was attended by UNFPA’s Country Representative Klaus Beck and by IOM’s National Program Officer Conrad Navidad. During the handover ceremony Mr. Navidad extended a message on behalf of IOM Philippines Chief of Mission Marco Boasso, “from the start of the Haiyan Response, the international humanitarian community has been committed in helping out the Philippine Government in expediting rehabilitative efforts, part of that is recognizing the needs of barangay communities. IOM is pleased to be here today together with UNFPA to help the communities in Ormoc by improving their social services”. Mr. Beck noted the long standing partnership between the two agencies and commented “IOM has been an invaluable partner, we are happy to be doing this worthy program with them, and we are happy to see this completed.” The City Social Welfare Officer Marietta Legaspi expressed her gratitude and appreciation to both organizations by saying “what you have done to help us, what UNFPA and IOM has given us, this is your legacy, and it will endure, not only as a structure, but in our hearts and in our minds, the people of Ormoc, thank you.”
Location map of Ormoc
Handover ceremony of the “3 in 1 building” Doña Felisa Mejia District Facility ©IOM 2015
IOM Philippines | Tel: +63 2 230 1999 | E-mail: iomphilippines@iom.int | Website: http://philippineresponse.iom.int |Twitter: @IOM_Philippines Issued 28 January 2015