NHA: Housing construction for 'Yolanda' victims satisfactory

TACLOBAN CITY, March 8 (PNA) -- The National Housing Authority (NHA) has dismissed claims that their housing construction performance is unsatisfactory more than two years after the 2013 catastrophe brought by supertyphoon "Yolanda".

NHA project manager Marilyn Lauzon said that of the 14,433 target permanent housing units to be constructed for typhoon victims in this city alone, at least 4,215 houses have been completed and ready for occupancy.

Some 4,647 are partially completed. She added that 13,877 are with notice of award and notice to proceed which are prerequisites before construction.

“I encourage media people to check because those houses constructed by NHA are the best. They are over-design that can withstand 250 kilometers per hour storm or even stronger,” Lauzon said.

Of the 4,215 livable houses, only 1,452 has occupancy permit issued by the city engineers office after inspection.

With 1,452 houses with occupancy permit, only 747 are occupied. These are in Kawayan Ville, Kawayan Ville 3, Ridge View Park 1, Villa Diana, and Villa Sophia subdivisions.

The government will transfer hundreds of families from bunkhouses to permanent ones between March 29 to April 18. Most of these families have children who are enrolled near their old settlement.

“We are doing our best to complete the project, but somewhere along the way there are factors that cause delay, such as procurement of land, unfavorable weather, water and electricity, but we are hoping to complete the project before the president’s term ends,” said Lauzon.

It was learned that after five years of moratorium, family beneficiaries will start paying PHP200 per month for 30 years. The house and lot costs PHP290,000 each. (PNA)
JMC/SQM/LIZBETH ANN A. ABELLA