CALAMBA CITY, Laguna (PIA) – The National Housing Authority (NHA) has recently distributed P11 million in financial assistance to survivors of Typhoon Paeng in Calamba City, Laguna.

Cedric Capulong, NHA principal engineer, said the assistance given to 1,692 families is part of the agency's Emergency Housing Assistance Program (EHAP) intended for the most severely affected families.

Capulong explained that the release of assistance got delayed as it underwent a series of validations in coordination with the city government and the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) to ensure that the aid grant will go to the rightful beneficiaries.

"We coordinated with the City Social Welfare and Development and DSWD when Typhoon Paeng happened in 2022 and they provided photos showing the condition of their houses. NHA validated it with the help of the local government, CSWD and DSWD, showing us the actual state of their houses,” Capulong stated.

Families whose houses were totally damaged received P10,000 each, while those with partially damaged houses, based on the assessment of the city government and DSWD, received P5,000 in financial aid.

According to the Calamba City government, although it took two years for the NHA to distribute the EHAP assistance, the city government promptly provided assistance to the affected families and assured them of additional government support after the calamity.

Ricardo Porsorbeto, a 74-year-old resident of Barangay Hornalan, expressed his gratitude to the NHA for the financial aid. He mentioned that he would use the assistance for house repairs and purchasing necessities, including a half sack of rice.

“I will use it for necessities, replacing what was damaged and lost during the calamity so when they come back to check, they will see that it’s already repaired,” Porsobeto said.

Senator Maria Imelda Josefa “Imee” Marcos also attended the distribution to show her support for the program and solidarity with the survivors of the typhoon.

She was accompanied by NHA General Manager Joeben Tai, Office of Civil Defense Calabarzon Regional Director Carlos Eduardo Alvarez III, 2nd District Representative Ruth Mariano-Hernandez, and Calamba City Mayor Roseller Rizal.

The NHA has assured all beneficiaries that the agency will continue to provide aid to families affected by previous natural calamities. (CO/PIA-4A)