A person with disability who works as a fish vendor, was one of the first 150 beneficiaries of the Yolanda Permanent Housing in E.B. Magalona who expressed gratitude to the government for giving them a decent and safe shelter.

Alejandro de Alvan, a husband and a father, from Brgy. Damgo, E.B. Magalona, who is among the 500 Saraviahanons whose houses were destroyed by typhoon Yolanda in 2013, thanked the National Housing Authority, Congressman Alfredo Abelardo Benitez, Congressman Stephen Paduano of Abang!Lingkod, and Mayor Marvin Malacon during the turn-over ceremony held last February 25 at Tumandok Village, Brgy. Sto. Nino, E. B. Magalona.

The NHA was represented by Architect Susana Nonato, head of the national project implementing team for Yolanda Housing, and Engr. Alejendro Ongsuco, NHA Negros Occidental district manager.

Cong. Benitez is the chair of the House Committee on Housing and Urban Development, while Cong. Paduano is a senior member of the said committee.

De Alvan, who has only one leg and uses crutches while vending fish, said, he gets his merchandise on loan, and pays for them at the end of the day.

He said he looks forward to going home to a place their family can call their own after selling fish for the whole day.

The other beneficiary who also gave a short testimony and message of thanks was Norifiel Arevalo, a barangay health worker from Brgy. Sto Nino.

In his message during the ceremony, Cong. Benitez, who first talked about the importance of a well-planned housing community and program and defended the Creation of the Department of Human Settlements and Urban Development, saying we have a housing problem in the country and the district, that needs to be addressed.

He encouraged the beneficiaries in Tumandok Village to check their units and list down their findings if there are defects, though a punch list to be provided by NHA so the contractor can repair them.

The housing unit, which cost about P 290K each, is donated for free to the beneficiaries, pn condition that they cannot sell, lease or mortgage it within 20 years.

Arch. Nonato told the beneficiaries to expect NHA staff to visit often or even stay in the housing site for a month or two, to ensure that the units are not substandard.

Mayor Malacon, in his message after the ceremonial turn-over of the replica of a Yolanda housing unit from NHA, acknowledged and appreciated the assistance of the national government through NHA, and the congressional offices of Representatives Benitez and Paduano.

He congratulated the beneficiaries and urged them to take care of their new homes.

Cong. Paduano of Abang!Lingkod shared the many efforts that the House Committee on Housing and Urban Development has done under the chairmanship of Cong. Benitez.

According to Engr. Erwin Poniado, municipal planning and development officer and housing officer of E.B. Magalona, of the first batch of 150 beneficiaries, 16 came from Brgy. 1, 15 from Brgy. 2, 14 from Brgy. 3, 19 From Brgy. Damgo, 18 from Brgy. San Jose, 37 from Brgy. Sto, Nino. 21 from Brgy. Tabigue, and 10 from Brgy. Tanza.

Beneficiaries of other barangays are slated to draw lots for their units in succeeding turn over ceremonies.

There 5, 411 Yolanda Housing Units in District 3. Aside from the 1,168 units turned over by NHA to E.B. Magalona LGU last Monday, 1,992 units were turned to Silay LGU last Feb 18, while Villa Victorias in Brgy. 13,Victorias City has almost fully occupied its 2,231 units.

Before the turn-over program, drawing of lots for the units were done per barangay after which the Municipal Fire Marshall Pablo Para talked to the beneficiaries to remind them to observe safety , especially on electrical connections, so as not cause fire in their units and the resettlement site.

Punong Barangay Jojo Villanueva of Brgy. Sto. Nino, where Tumandok Village is located, welcomed all the guests, beneficiaries and the different punong barangays of E.B. Magalona who came with their constituents-beneficiaries.*