The  Filipino  “bayanihan” spirit lives on amid the disasters and challenges of the times. This once again has been made evident  in the case of  200 people who lost their houses during the onslaught of super typhoon Yolanda last year.

Now these families are proud owners of  200 houses, thanks to  private groups and individuals whose donations SM Cares collated to build them decent and disaster-resilient units.

On Sunday,  SM Cares handed the keys to the housing units for the 200 families. 

The SM Cares Housing Village in Bogo City, Cebu is a living proof of the  bayanihan spirit.

All the houses  in the Village have been designed to surpass if not meet  the requirements of the  Building Code and mandated standards.

Each house is composed of 3,000 psi cast in place concrete walls and roof slabs, which can withstand the strength of winds accompanying a Category 5 super typhoon without any major material damages.

The houses also have heat-resistant painted roofing to help lower interior temperature and increase energy efficiency.

The windows and doors are  made of aluminum frame and PVC to provide a high level of resistance to corrosion, rot, chipping, fading, insect assault, discoloration, and severe conditions.

Each SM Cares Housing Village will have utilities, basic amenities like streetlights, community center and basketball court.

SM Foundation has teamed up with Ramon Aboitiz Foundation, Inc. (RAFI) to provide family-beneficiaries quality rehabilitation, livelihood assistance and recovery services through   values formation programs and social services.

This will ensure social preparation programs together with local government units are implemented to see to it that community organizing and development programs are incorporated in all facets of the construction of houses in the village.

RAFI will also conduct community seminars and services in the village to promote good values, volunteerism and cooperation among the family-beneficiaries.

Through this, SM Cares hopes to give survivors not only physical shelter, but also help them move on with their lives and become productive again.