Houses bouncing back after Haiyan

A year after one of the deadliest storms ever to make landfall, new houses are springing up across the Philippines.

Australian architect Tim Stats has been in the islands since a week after Haiyan struck, killing at least 6300 people and affecting 16 million.

Working as a water and habitat engineer, he has been primarily based in Guiuan, on Samar Island, where the storm first hit.

Helped by the Red Cross, about 6000 new houses have been built there using recycled coconut timber and bamboo. However, they have also been fitted with corrugated iron roofs and reinforced concrete foundations built to local code.

"They look Filippino but by using a few additional materials ... they're actually much better than most of the houses were before," Mr Stats told AAP on the first anniversary eve of the storm on Friday.

He said small fishing communities around Samar faced almost 100 per cent devastation.

In the weeks and months following Haiyan, locals survived by making makeshift shelters from salvaged timber, roofing iron, and tarpaulins.

The 3x6 metre houses have an empty floorplan so their inhabitants can add partitions, furniture, and make modifications as they go along.

But a huge amount remains to be done, with the reconstruction expected to take years.

"We see people now that have somewhere comfortable, dry and safe to live. A lot of people in this area were fisherfolk or small-scale farmers with coconut trees or rice and their livelihoods have been hit very hard," Mr Stats said.

"(Villagers) are appreciative of the assistance but they just want to be able to work so they can earn money and then support themselves and their family."

There also needs to be continued investment in early-warning systems, trained local first-aiders and other measures that help local communities prepare, said Peter Walton, Australian Red Cross Head of International Program.

Mr Stats said he was amazed by the positive attitude of the locals.

"They'll always choose to smile if they can, they always look to the positive side."