IOM is nearing completion of 200 temporary homes in Bato and
Pasacao, two of six project sites for typhoon-affected families
funded by the UN Central Emergency Response Fund (CERF) in
Camarines Sur.

The IOM project, which began in August 2007, will soon complete
a total of 455 CERF-funded shelters in Camarines Sur for families
who lost their houses to Typhoon Reming / Durian in November 2006.
To date, IOM has built 404 of the shelters, 259 of which are
already occupied.

Last week the sites in Bato and Pasacao received the blessing of
the Roman Catholic Church; trees were planted and residents
attended talks on health, water sanitation and waste
management.

Each site also saw the induction of newly elected officials to a
homeowners' association at ceremonies attended by Bato Mayor
Jeanette Bernaldez and Pasacao Mayor Araceli Arcenio, together with
local and provincial government representatives and IOM partner
agencies.

IOM's initial Bicol relief operations, which delivered more than
12,500 metric tons of food, non-food items and shelter materials to
the typhoon survivors in December 2006, were also funded by the
CERF.

Other ongoing IOM projects in Bicol include shelter construction
and community development initiatives in partnership with the
European Commission Directorate General for Humanitarian Aid
(ECHO), the United States Agency for International Development
(USAID) and the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP.)

For more information, please contact:

Mark Maulit

IOM Philippines

Tel: +63 9215763047

E-mail: "mailto:mmaulit@iom.int">mmaulit@iom.int