QUEZON CITY — The Department of Human Settlements and Urban Development (DHSUD) has vowed to finish all the remaining permanent housing projects for victims of Super Typhoon Yolanda.
DHSUD Secretary Jose Rizalino Acuzar said that the National Housing Authority (NHA) has committed to complete the remaining 4,702 housing units under its Yolanda Permanent Housing Project (YPHP) by December this year.
So far, NHA has already completed 53,917 units out of the 58,619 permanent housing requirements under YPHP. Out of the completed units, a total of 45,454 units are already occupied by beneficiaries.
“Utos ng ating mahal na Pangulo na tapusin lahat ng NHA ang mga Yolanda housing projects dito sa Region 8 ,at sigurado po lahat ngayon taon ay tatapusin na ang problema sa Yolanda housing,” Secretary Acuzar said.
Secretary Acuzar made the statement during Friday’s ceremonial turnover of 3,517 housing units in Burauen, Leyte led by President Marcos Jr. with House Speaker Martin Romualdez.
In his speech, the President urged the housing agencies to build climate-resilient houses to ensure that each unit can withstand typhoons and other natural disasters.
“Sa DHSUD at sa NHA, inaasahan ko na palalawigin pa ninyo ang pagtuklas at paggamit ng mga disenyo ng pabahay na mas matibay pa at mas angkop sa pagbabago ng klima at hamon ng panahon,” said President Marcos Jr.
The said housing units are located in Cool Spring Residences, Riverside Community Residences, Mont Eagle Ville Subdivision, Coconut Grove Village, Dagami Town Ville and Pastrana Ville, all in Leyte; Marabut Ville Sites 1 and 2 in Samar; and the Culaba Housing Project in Biliran.
“Nagpatayo tayo ng mga bahay na matibay at kayang siguruhing ligtas ang inyong pamilya sa gitna ng mga hamon ng kalikasan. Iyan ay dahil sa disaster resilient housing design na masusing isinagawa ng National Housing Authority. Ibig pong sabihin nito, ang ating mga pabahay ay kaya nang labanan ang malakas na hangin at lindol,” the President explained.
Qualified beneficiaries of the YPHP received the housing units as grant, at no cost, after being displaced by the onslaught of “Yolanda” in November 2013 and are residing in identified hazard-prone areas. (DHSUD)
