Patricia Ruth Cailao
QUEZON CITY, Nov. 12 -- Developments on the construction of permanent settlements for Typhoon Yolanda survivors are underway despite the challenges.
Housing and Urban Development Coordinating Council (HUDCC) Chairman Atty. Chito M. Cruz said that more than a million houses were affected by ‘Yolanda’ but the National Housing Authority (NHA) is only mandated to provide permanent resettlements for families living in unsafe areas.
The NHA need to build 205,128 permanent housing units based on the Comprehensive Rehabilitation Recovery Plan (CRRP) approved by the President. This covers six (6) regions, 14 provinces, and 116 cities and municipalities.
Other affected families whose houses are in safe areas were provided assistance by the Department of Social Welfare and Development through the emergency shelter assistance program.
The most difficult process the NHA encountered—and that also led to a slower pace in the implementation of permanent housing project—was finding safe lands for resettlement under the build back better principle.
For the 205,128 units that have to be put up, the government has to find about 1,367 hectares, based on the required template of 150 units per hectare as stated in the CRRP.
Not only should lands be suitable for the required template, these should be titled lands and the titles should be unencumbered, that is, free from other claims and liability.
Moreover, resettlement sites should be in safe lands and with access to utilities.
“The lands should not be susceptible to flooding, landslides, tsunami, earthquake and storm surges,” Cruz said. “The (resettlement site) must have access to other infrastructures such as water, power, and road networks.”
Construction of permanent housing units was also delayed by the bidding and procurement process as required by law. This takes time along with getting development permits, licenses, and clearances.
Of the P93.7 billion fund release by DBM for the various needs of the rehabilitation program, the NHA was given P26.9 billion to produce 92,554 houses.
As of October 31, 2015, a total of 74,385 units had been bidden out or obligated. Of this number, 42,566 are in various stages of construction and 17,641 units already substantially completed, Cruz said.
The remaining 18,169 housing units to be built are now undergoing procurement. This will be obligated this month, Cruz said.
A total of 929 units were already turned over to some residents of Tanauan and in Tacloban, Leyte.
Cruz said that for December 2015, NHA said 21,455 housing units will be completed by the end of December 2015, and an additional 42,566 units by June 2016. In December 2016, the NHA targets to complete 28,533 units.
NHA is already in 919 sites covering the following provinces—Aklan, Antique, Capiz, Iloilo, Negros, Cebu, Leyte (Tacloban), Eastern Samar, Samar, Biliran, and Palawan.
Clarification on ‘unused’ funds for Yolanda victims
Meanwhile, the P923 million quick response fund (QRF) for Yolanda victims that was stated in the Commission on Audit (COA) 2014 report as ‘not utilized’, has already been obligated as of date, National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council Executive Director Alexander Pama said in a joint press briefing on Yolanda rehabilitation and recovery last November 5.
He pointed out that the COA report was prepared in 2014. “Ten months hence which is now, the totality of that amount (to be used for procurement of non-food items) has already been obligated,” Pama said.
Pama added that about P9 million was returned to the Bureau of Treasury as these were continuing funds from 2013, and will not be utilized for 2015. (VDC/RDA/PRC)