NHA to build 3,224 houses in Leyte town

CARIGARA, Leyte, Sept. 15 (PNA) -- The National Housing Authority (NHA) will build 3,224 housing units for the families living in flood-prone communities and coastal villages in this town as part of the national government’s post-Yolanda recovery projects.

“It took more than two years before the housing projects started because the NHA had a hard time to acquire the property,” Carigara Mayor Eduardo Ong said.

It was learned from Ong that for the housing project to materialize, the NHA needs 27 hectares of lot to build 1,524 units in Parag-om village and 680 units in Cabdigahub village.

However, Ong said that he is not amenable with the conditions set by the NHA before awarding the housing units to beneficiaries.

"The condition set was to destroy all houses built in flood prone areas. It would be difficult because it is close to their livelihood. Our proposal is for the recipients to stay in their old house during daytime and return to their new homes at night," Ong said.

Ong admitted that the local government cannot afford to provide livelihoods to all residents in the relocation sites.

Each housing unit costs PHP290,000. The NHA has allocated about PHP1 billion for the said housing project in this town. (PNA)
JMC/SQM/LIZBETH ANN A. ABELLA/EGR