Progress Report: We are adding six more construction people, 2 labor, 4 skilled, all-around, steel, mason, carpenter by tomorrow, so our weekly salary will go up to 35,000-40,000 pesos approx.Time is money and Juvy thinks the way I do that this build is going to slowly. So, we are adding more plywood for forms so that we can make module two and three simultaneously, last columns and beams since the trusses are starting to be formed above the roof beams i the first module, there should be no lull time. The metal roofing of gauge 24 is actually like gauge 26 of before, so when you press it with your thumb, it indents. We were shocked, made the calculations at the hardware with the owner and settled for a gauge 22, altho 100 pesos more, will not peel off like paper in gale force winds. So the ones on the boat for delivery were replaced pronto.Our roof is corrugated Galvalume, less prone to rusting, altho we will prime them still with anti-rust as we are surrounded by sea water. Our hollow blocks are pretty sturdy, the architect who passed by was impressed, it can pass the throw to the ground test handily, being 32 HBs to a sack of cement instead of the 100-120 HBs in Cebu. He also noted that our bars were thick. He was surprised that we have tie beams, beams below to tie the columns, and I said it is for stability during earthquakes so the whole building moves as one, as if it is floating, it is normal for Metro Manila builds since we are always aware of the big one. Caritas International passed by to observe and told our foreman that he observes that our build is strong.They got my number but no calls. It rained almost every day last week,luckily just for a bit due to a low pressure area(LPA) affecting Visayas. There is another one looming in the west and it will affect Luzon mainly but seas here will be affected also.So, that is one of the reasons to speed up the build as it will slow down due to the incoming storms , altho the men work in ordinary rain and also because crossing to the islet from Bantayan will be more difficult, as of now,I always wait for the white caps to less before I attempt to cross even so, the swells are already like a mini-roller coaster ride. Most of the kids are sick with cough and colds because of the heat in the tents and the cooler evenings and all the more reason to speed up the build. They feel blessed , not lucky but blessed that all of you donors and fund raisers are doing this for people so far away and everyday that I go, they say thank you, so I am passing their expression of gratitude to you. I am staying longer instead of flying back and coming back, maybe go to Cebu City to withdraw and change money for our additional salary and materials.It saves money and also time , since it takes a good six and a half hours for me to get to the halfway base in Compostela, and another 4-5 hours to get to the main island of Bantayan.It can take a toll.But since you are working so hard we are also making sure that we save where we can as if we are building our own house. Today is a rest day for the crew so no crossing to the islet.So, thats all for now.
Posted on: Sat, 05 Jul 2014 22:27:50 +0000