NHA-7 Says Site Development for Yolanda Survivors Housing Projects Ongoing

An official of the National Housing Authority (NHA) 7 has said land development for the housing projects for super typhoon Yolanda survivors in northern Cebu are still ongoing.

NHA 7 supervising engineer Constancio Antiniero said the agency still has to complete housing projects in the 16 local government units (LGUs) in northern Cebu that were affected by the calamity.

At least 152,746 families were affected by Yolanda, according to the Cebu Provincial Rehabilitation, Recovery and Development Plan.

Some 16,290 households continue to live inside the 40-meter danger zone and need to be relocated.

The NHA targeted to build 22,423 houses in the relocation sites identified by the LGUs.

Antiniero said site development is ongoing in the towns of Tabuelan, San Remegio, Medellin, Daanbantayan and Bantayan.

The NHA intends to set up a housing project each in the towns of Borbon, Sogod, Tabogon, Tuburan, Tabuelan, Poro, Tudela and Pilar.

In Bogo City, San Remigio, Medellin and San Francisco, the agency plans to set up two housing projects.

Daanbantayan and Bantayan will each have six housing projects; Madridejos, five; and Sta. Fe, three.

Sogod and Tuburan have not yet endorsed a relocation site to the agency for inspection.

Among the causes of delay are non-compliance of the environmental compliance certificate requirements, some of the proposed sites are not titled or the sites are too expensive, said Antiniero.

He also said the non-availability of water and power utilities in some of the proposed sites, or that the site is not suitable for housing or some beneficiaries or some politicians object.

Cebu Governor Hilario Davide III said the Provincial Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Office has helped the NHA look for suitable relocation sites.

“In fairness to the national government, they are trying their best, really,” he said. (PNA) LAP/EB/EDS