ILOILO – The Sangguniang Panlalawigan (SP) is inspecting the P290-million housing project of the National Housing Authority (NHA) in Barangay Bacjawan Sur, Concepcion town.
The project, intended for those displaced by super typhoon “Yolanda” in 2013, has been alleged to be substandard.
According to SP member Renee Valencia, chairperson of the committee on justice, good government and human rights, the ocular inspection would either confirm or disprove the complaints of some beneficiaries.
No date has been set yet.
The Provincial Engineering Office and Department of Public Works and Highways may be asked to send representatives for the inspection, said Valencia.
Yesterday, Valencia’s committee held a public hearing on the housing beneficiaries’ complaints. The representative of NHA Engr. Cesar Estimos and that of the housing project contractor (Hermino Carreon of Hercar Construction Corp.) insisted the units were built following the specifications set.
Members of the Sangguniang Bayan of Concepcion (Reymond Gabayeron, Mark Ruffin Villaruz and Rolinda De Julian), on the other hand, affirmed the claims of the housing beneficiaries.
According to Valencia, his committee would conduct another hearing after the ocular inspection.
He also said the committee may come up with a resolution raising to the House of Representatives the beneficiaries’ concerns over the NHA housing project.
After all, it is a national government-funded project, said Valencia.
The construction of some 1,000 housing units in Barangay Bacjawan Sur, Concepcion started in 2016. Valencia said 450 beneficiaries have so far relocated to these houses.
A housing unit was estimated to cost P290,000.
Beneficiaries were complaining of cracking floors, weak concrete walls, leaking roofs, poor paint job, lack of water supply, and poor toilet construction.
During a visit here on May 25, the chairperson of the Senate housing committee, Sen. JV Ejercito, said the housing project in Concepcion would be investigated by his panel.
“We will look into it kung talagang mayroong issues,” said Ejercito./PN
