Slow pace of ‘Yolanda’ housing construction reported

TACLOBAN CITY, July 7 (PNA) -– Only 7,537 permanent houses out of the 37,485 units intended for super typhoon Yolanda survivors in Eastern Visayas have been completed as of June, the National Housing Authority (NHA) reported.

Of the completed units, only 2,013 have been turned over to beneficiaries due to lack of potable water supply, absence of power connections, inadequate learning facilities, and lack of livelihood opportunities.

The region needs about 56,140 units for all affected areas, but only 37,485 units have been awarded to contractors as of last month. The remaining 18,655 units are still up for bidding and approval of proposal.

Of the 37,485 approved housing units, 13,928 are in Tacloban City, 11,132 in Leyte province, 3,820 in Eastern Samar, 4,326 in Samar, and 4,279 in Biliran.

The NHA is currently developing 17 housing sites for Tacloban City alone.

In the entire Leyte province, ongoing and completed projects are in Palo, Tanauan, Babatngon, Carigara, Palompon, Pastrana, Isabel, Macarthur, Mayorga, Tolosa, San Isidro, Julita, and Ormoc City.

Works are ongoing in Basey, Marabut, and Villareal in Samar; Guiuan, Balangkayan, Hernani, Balangiga, Quinaponda, and General Macarthur in Eastern Samar province.

In Biliran, awarded projects are in the towns of Caibiran, Naval, Biliran, and Almeria.

Several towns proposed to NHA to include them in permanent housing projects. These are Baybay City, Burauen, Inopacan, Matag-ob, San Miguel, and Tabango in Leyte; Giporlos, Lawaan, Llorente, 

Maydolong, Mercedes, and Salcedo in Eastern Samar; Sta. Rita, Samar; Cabucgayan and Culaba, Biliran.

NHA Regional Manager Rizalde Mediavillo said the target housing units for sites with ongoing projects will be substantially completed by December 2016, but some works could be extended until early 2017 due to some challenges.

For new sites, it takes time to identify safe and suitable sites. It has to through the scrutiny of Department of Science and Technology, Department of Public Works and Highways, and the Mines and Geosciences Bureau of the Department of Environment and Natural Resources.

Housing units will 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. (PNA)
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