SAN JOSE, Antique – The National Housing Authority (NHA) in Western Visayas will be constructing more housing units for Typhoon Yolanda survivors in the province.
Ma. Luz Ysatam, NHA regional project manager, on Thursday said they are planning to build around 736 houses in resettlement sites in towns of Tibiao and Culasi.
“There is a request for additional housing units for the Yolanda victims so NHA will be constructing more,” said Ysatam.
She added the request was supposedly for 1,000 additional units. However, since the houses will be enhanced with floor tiles, paint and cabinets; the amount allocated will only be enough for 736 units in every municipality.
“Each of the houses will cost around P351,000,” the NHA official noted.
Ysatam said the 609 housing units currently being built in Tibiao and 1,974 in Culasi cost only P290,000 each because they have no paint, tiles nor cabinets.
Meanwhile, Provincial Board member Rosie Dimamay from Tibiao recalled that last year, she sent a request letter for additional housing units because many houses were damaged in her municipality.
“Tibiao, being the center, gravely suffered from Yolanda,” Dimamay stressed.
She said the housing units for Tibiao did not even meet one-fourth of the needs of the people in the municipality.
Ysatam, however, explained the bidding for the additional housing units to be constructed in Tibiao and Culasi is now being done in their Metro Manila office.
She added that they have a mandate to finish all housing projects for typhoon Yolanda by the end of this year.
In Antique, there is a total of 10,000 houses constructed in various status, with some ready for occupancy.
Ysatam said the NHA was unable to start the implementation of the housing project for Yolanda victims in 2017 because of land acquisition problems. (With a report from PNA/PN)
