XAVIER ECOVILLE STORY. President of Xavier University, Fr Roberto C Yap SJ recounts the experiences and shares the best practices of Xavier Ecoville, from scratch to what is now "a model university-led resettlement community in the country," with the guests from Habitat for Humanity.
Words by Stephen J Pedroza
Xavier Ecoville, regarded as being the first university-led resettlement community in the country, received the Prime Mover Award from Habitat for Humanity.
XU president Fr Roberto C Yap SJ received the award Tuesday, Feb 23 and expressed his gratitude to Habitat for Humanity for the recognition of the work Xavier Ecoville has been doing since early 2012, in the aftermath of Typhoon Sendong.
“We had a great time reminiscing our experiences. As I remembered the trustees were very clear and they said that ‘Let’s donate land for Sendong [survivors],’” Yap recounted, adding, “One good thing that they said is ‘You know what, let’s be in charge of it. Let’s be involved.’”
There were many groups who supported the resettlement endeavor and continue to help the Xavier Ecoville community up to today.
“I’m really happy that we chose Habitat for Humanity as our partner for construction. It was very easy to talk to Habitat for Humanity so our partnership began and it really went smoothly,” Yap said.
University engagement
In addition to the Habitat for Humanity personnel, the XU Engineering team also worked with the non-government organization as representatives of XU in the construction.
“The planning was done together and the building was also done together,” Yap said, “And we were very clear that we were not only building houses but we were building a community.”
Xavier Ecoville was able to bring Gawad Kalinga and Habitat for Humanity along with other partner organizations together for the project.
Xavier Ecoville was awarded for being the “model of how universities can be involved in building a resettlement community.”
“Our Nursing and Medicine departments were there for the health component. Our School of Business and Management led the livelihood programs. The School of Education took charge of tutoring and literacy programs. Our Engineering team helped in the construction designs and planning. Other units also helped so it was really a university engagement,” Yap shared with the guests from Habitat for Humanity. “A lot of orgs and people really helped a lot.”
Yap also related the challenges the community faces. “Livelihood has been a challenge at Xavier Ecoville because the community is far from the city. The livelihood projects are still coming in with the support of different institutions, Maybank, for example,” he said.
Resettlement model
Over the years, different housing agencies and national and international organizations have visited Ecoville to study its processes and replicate it in other relocation sites.
“The Xavier Ecoville Project (XEP) management team is currently producing knowledge products such as training modules so others can learn from our experience and replicate it in other areas,” XEP coordinator Philip Flores said.
“We are training the leaders of the homeowners to be the ones to speak to partner institutions unlike before when XU personnel did the talking,” he added.
Flores has shared the Xavier Ecoville stories and system to different resettlement areas in the ST Yolanda-ravaged Tacloban and in other countries.
A vocational school training center will soon rise at Xavier Ecoville, funded by Maybank Foundation Inc, which will train and provide skills development to community members.
“Recently, the Maybank scholars passed the NCII exams and they are now licensed technicians, carpenters and welders. Now, it’s their time to give back to the community by training others,” Flores said.
XU is phasing out from the community as part of their plan. “This is going to be our last year with the community and eventually we will let them be self-sufficient,” Flores said.
A vision for Xavier Ecoville
On January 29 this year, Habitat for Humanity Philippines officially launched its “We Build” campaign to strengthen the partnerships it has forged with donors and key partners in building communities and transforming lives.
More than 80 donors and key partners, including Xavier Ecoville, were recognized during the event led by Fernando Zobel de Ayala, Habitat for Humanity International’s board secretary and Habitat Philippines’ capital campaign cabinet chairman.
“Xavier Ecoville is unique,” said Leonilo Escalada, chief operating officer of Habitat for Humanity Philippines. “This time it’s a university that is actually giving away their property and supporting the community to rebuild their lives and families.”
Escalada shared a reflection from working with other resettlement communities in the country.
“We have an experience in some 20-year-old communities; it’s now the children who are speaking about the importance of having a secured home that brings them hope. They are successful in their career. Given the opportunity, I’m sure Xavier Ecoville will do the same. It’s our vision.”