PADRE LAS CASA.- The foundations Sur Futuro, Juan Luis Guerra and Orange Dominicana yesterday donated 38 houses that cost 17 million pesos to build, in this town’s Los Naranjos section.

“Thanks to all those who have taken us out of the situation in which we lived; our house was always full of water,” said Mrs. Concepción Valenzuela, 95, one of the project’s beneficiaries, affected by the flooding from tropical storms Noel and Olga last year.

Sur Futuro president Melba Segura de Grullón; Jeannette Rodriguez, of Orange Dominicana and Juan Luis Guerra, president of the foundation that bears his name headed the project’s inaugural.

Segura said for a long time these people saw how the Las Cuevas river’s waters crumbled their humble homes. “With this relocation these families are moved away from vulnerable zones and the bases for a more dignified life are created, while the beneficiaries assume the commitment to turn that uncertain place and constantly threatened by tragedy, into a forest of life, by reforesting.”

The 38 houses join 10 others that were donated for victims in the lower Yuna river basin, and 20 being built in San José de Ocoa, and the 24 million pesos was raised last December.

“I believe that it’s a privilege to be able to help, and those of us who are privileged must share what we have with others. We are stimulated and next year we’re going to hold a dinner dance to institute it,” Guerra said in the inaugural.