By Stacey Marie Baladya
CEBU CITY, Nov. 15 (PIA) -- Fifteen beneficiaries of the Yolanda Permanent Housing Project from Tabuelan, Cebu were given their certificates of award from the National Housing Authority (NHA) on Nov. 14, 2019, at the NHA Region 7 office.
The ceremonial turnover was witnessed by Cabinet Secretary Karlo Nograles and Tabuelan Vice Mayor Rex Gerona.
The housing units in Olivo Heights, Tabuelan cover a total of two hectares in terms of land area and has generated at least 220 lots and units.
Each lot measures 40 sq.m and is a bungalow-type housing.
The project is in partnership with Hi-Tri Development Corp. and is worth P63,722,709.02.
As of this writing, the Yolanda Permanent Housing Project in Olivo Heights Tabuelan is the first housing project to be fully occupied and turned over six years after the typhoon struck northern Cebu.
Nograles said in his speech that the next focus, when all the housing projects have already been turned over, is to develop the housing areas into full-fledged communities where not only is there complete provision of electricity and water but also a nearby school or day care established for the children in the community.
Nograles added that that the current administration aims to finish all the housing units for Yolanda and turn them over to the beneficiaries before the term ends.
The present administration is further asking NHA to implement more housing projects for the Yolanda victims.
There are at least 3,771 housing units not yet implemented out of the more than 22,000 units planned.
NHA-7 Cebu District Office OIC Engr. Constancio Antiniero explained that this is due to the guidelines set in the construction of permanent housing programs.
The land to be used needs to be a titled property and needs to be within a residential area.
As of now, the remaining 3,771 units not yet implemented is for the Camotes housing program due to issues with land titling for the area.
However, Antiniero is confident that with close coordination with the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR-7), they will be successful in the implementation of housing programs for those in Camotes Island. (smb/PIA7)