Tue, 03/06/2018

More resettlement sites for Informal Settler Families are expected to be developed in the towns and cities of the Third District in Negros Occidental in the coming years.

Participants of the Third District Housing Meeting with NHA representatives facilitated by the office of Cong. Benitez

Housing Officers or focal persons of the cities of Victorias, Silay and Talisay and the municipalities of EB Magalona and Murcia, recently met with the National Housing Authority (NHA), convened by the Office of Congressman Alfredo Abelardo Benitez through District Coordinator on Housing Concerns, Marie June Pavillar-Castro.

Engineers Alejandro Ongsuco and Liezl Miquit of NHA-Bacolod Project Office, oriented the LGU representatives about the Resettlement Assistance Program and the District Housing program of the agency, among others.

Ongsuco, Officer in Charge of NHA Bacolod, said the RAP-LGU provides a maximum of P12 million grant to LGUs, with additional P12 million interest-free loan for cities. Miquit, acting principal engineer of NHA Bacolod, added that LGUs can avail of the RAP up to three times.

“If the LGU resettlement area is big, succeeding RAPs can be used to develop the same community but different phases of the site or subdivision”, Miquit added.

RAP can fund surveys, detailed engineering and architectural plans, concreting of roads, and construction of drainage and septic tanks or vaults.

Provision of electricity and water services or connection to the resettlement sites are LGU counterpart or equity.

During the March 1 meeting at NHA Bacolod Office, Victorias City, through Housing Officer Primilo Solinap, proposed to complete their staff work and required documents to avail of the RAP in three phases to develop the 10 hectare property which Canetown Development Corporation, a subsidiary of Victorias Milling Company, granted the City perpetual right to use (and will eventually donate), for social housing.

Victorias City is proposing three phases of the P24 million RAP for 2019, 2020 and 2021 or a total of P72 million.

Talisay City is proposing P24 million each for 2020 and 2021, while E.B. Magalona and Murcia will each propose for the P12 million grant for 2020 and 2021.

Aside from the RAP, Engr. Ongsuco also informed the LGU stakeholders that there is also a District Housing Program where a P4.5 million fund from the congressman can be used for cost-recoverable land acquisition, land development or housing construction.

Among the LGUs in the District, Murcia town has signified its interest to propose under the District Housing Program as they need resettlement sites near the town proper and for some residents of Brgy. Minoyan, since a big portion of barangay is a military reservation area.

As per NHA requirement, the project proposal and the list of beneficiaries under the District Housing Program need to be endorsed by the legislator.

Stakeholders who attended the March meeting with NHA, were Marvelyn Serrano of E.B. Magalona Planning and Development Office, and Randy Gamboa and Annie Olimpo of Murcia’s Assessor’s Office.

Talisay City was represented by Marmelo Sausi of the City Planning and Development Office and Executive Assistants Farah Jayme and Atty. Boyet Maghari, while Alore Golez of Silay City Housing Authority Office attended with Darel Panilo and Mary Ann Deita.

Silay City has already availed of the RAP in previous years for the development of Bon Bon Resettlement Site Phase 3, located in Brgy. E Lopez.

Because of its developed and buildable site, Habitat for Humanity has chosen Silay for its Bamboo-Cement Frame Technology housing construction project for ISFs.

Habitat committed to construct 546 units and community centers, starting with the first 100 units this year.

Last month, a ceremonial turn over of the P44 million donation from Maritess Alava-Yong or MAY Foundation, which will fund the first 86 units and a community center, was held together with the groundbreaking.

Construction of the units of within the MAY Village is expected to be completed and turned over to qualified ISFs this August.

Since Silay City recently received a donation for several hectares of land in Brgy. Kapitan Ramon, Mayor Mark Golez informed the District Coordinator on Housing Concerns, after updating him of the NHA meeting, that he will check which part of the donated land is suitable for social housing before the City will propose to be included in the NHA targets for the coming years. *