Gov’t eyes transfer of 700 Tacloban families to permanent houses by April 20

TACLOBAN CITY, April 5 (PNA) –- The government is eyeing to transfer all the 700 families dwelling in bunkhouses to permanent shelters in the northern part of the city by April 20.

In more than two weeks, two of the three bunkhouses in the city occupied by families badly-hit by supertyphoon "Yolanda" in 2013, will be completely empty, said Dorcas Secreto, NHA regional office estate management specialist.

The remaining families are recipients of a permanent housing projects funded by an international non-government organization.

“The distance of relocation sites from schools where children were enrolled and water supply problem are the major reasons why the transfer has been delayed,” Secreto said.

The local inter-agency committee has already facilitated the transfer of 452 families from bunkhouses and temporary shelters to permanent housing units.

“We are on track with our target to transfer about a hundred families from bunkhouses daily,” Secreto said.

At least 5,357 houses have been substantially completed, according to NHA. Of the number, 3,423 units are 90 to 99 percent complete, and 1,933 houses are ready for occupancy.

About 4,538 units are now under construction, raising optimism that the 14,433 housing units in the city’s northern relocation sites will be completed by end of 2016.

The NHA has been developing 16 subdivisions for Yolanda-hit families in coastal areas tagged as danger zones. Four sites are now fully developed – Ridge View Park 1 and 2 in Cabalawan village, 

Villa Sofia in Tagpuro village, and Villa Diana in New Kawayan village.

The official admitted that projects has been delayed due to issues related to land acquisition, site development, permit issuances, unfavorable weather, construction materials shortage, and logistical hurdles.

For supertyphoon Yolanda victims, the NHA has allocated space for school buildings, tricycle terminals, police outpost, Materials Recovery Facility (MRF), health center and covered basketball court cum multi-purpose center.

Housing units have individual septic tanks, and has a minimum lot size of 40 square meters, while loftable row house measures 22 square meters to follow the loftable resilient housing design.

These houses are not completely free since beneficiaries will start paying PHP290 monthly amortization for 30 years after five years of occupancy.

Total payment is about PHP100,000, lower than the PHP290,000 actual cost of each house and lot. (PNA)

JMC/SARWELL Q. MENIANO