House resumes inquiry into slow relocation of Yolanda victims
20-September-2017, 10:37:16 AM
SOURCE: House of Representatives Press and Public Affairs Bureau
National
Congress’s interest brings fresh hope to Yolanda shelter beneficiaries
By Elmer Recuerdo - September 18, 2017
BALANGIGA, Eastern Samar—Residents of Barangay 6, a coastal community of over 400 households of this historic town, are edgy when visitors come to make inquiries on their issues with the housing project of the National Housing Authority (NHA).
They have a valid reason for their anxiety. While Supertyphoon Yolanda flattened almost all of the more than 400 houses except for about a dozen or less, the NHA has identified only 165 households qualified for relocation in the resettlement site. Those identified for relocation have issued a “notice of refusal”, citing the poor structural design of the houses built.
NHA scolded for being too lax on Yolanda housing works
Published September 18, 2017, 6:38 PM
By Ellson Quismorio
House of Representatives members on Monday scolded the National Housing Authority (NHA) for being too nonchalant in its supervision of the construction of resettlement sites for super typhoon “Yolanda” (international name: Haiyan) victims.
Negros Occidental third district Rep. Alfredo Benitez, Caloocan City second district Rep. Edgar Erice and Eastern Samar lone district Rep. Ben Evardone all agreed during a House inquiry that it’s the NHA’s fault why the construction of homes for the victims remain “snail-placed” nearly four years after the storm.
Contractor denies using substandard materials in ‘Yolanda’ housing
By: Marc Jayson Cayabyab 07:40 PM September 18, 2017
A contractor denied before a hearing at the House of Representatives on Monday that he had built substandard housing for the victims of Supertyphoon Yolanda.
During the hearing conducted by the House Committee on Housing and Urban Development, Juanito Tayag, who owns JC Tayag Builders Inc., lamented that lawmakers deemed as “gospel truth” the allegations of a certain Camilo Salazar that substandard materials were used in the construction of the housing units.
Contractor denies substandard materials used for Yolanda housing units
Published September 18, 2017 7:21pm
By ERWIN COLCOL, GMA News
The contractor for the Yolanda housing project on Monday denied the accusations against his company regarding the "snail-paced" implementation of the project.
During a hearing by the House Committee on Housing and Urban Development, Juanito Tayag, owner of JC Tayag Builders Inc., belied the claim of Camilo Salazar that the materials for the housing project were substandard, among others.
The House panel is investigating the perceived snail-paced implementation of housing relocation and resettlement projects for those affected by Typhoon Yolanda, which battered Eastern Visayas in November 2013, killing over 6,000 people.
Update Today from Committee on Housing
September 13, 2017
Panukalang batas para sa pamamahagi ng lupa para sa mga informal settler families sa Barangay Krus na Ligas, Quezon City at Welfareville, Mandaluyong City, pasado na sa Committee on Housing sa pangunguna ni Cong. Albee Benitez!
Retirement pay for barangay officials, health workers pushed
Updated September 12, 2017, 3:44 PM
By Charissa Luci-Atienza
A House leader is calling on his colleagues to pass a bill seeking to provide retirement pay not only for barangay officials, but also for barangay tanods, health workers and Day Care workers.
Negros Occidental Rep. Albee Benitez sought the creation of a Barangay Retirement Fund which shall be used to finance the retirement of barangay officials, barangay tanods, members of the Lupon ng Tagapamayapa, barangay health workers and Day Care workers.
Rep. Albee Benitez graced the 60th Foundation Anniversary, 4th Flomlok Festival 2017
September 10, 2017
Rep. Albee Benitez graced the 60th Foundation Anniversary and the 14th Flomlok Festival 2017 of Polomolok, South Cotabato, joining Rep. Pedro B. Acharon Jr, Gov. Daisy Avance-Fuentes, Mayor Honey Lumayag-Matti and LGU officials in the festivities. He also turned-over solar lighting/charging kits as part of his advocacy for clean, cheap energy for Filipino households.
House panel sets probe on ‘Yolanda’ housing anomaly on Sept. 18
BY THE MANILA TIMES ON SEPTEMBER 7, 2017
THE House of Representatives has calendared an investigation on an alleged anomaly in a government housing project involving “billions of pesos” allegedly misused by a contractor hired by the National Housing Authority (NHA) to build homes for victims of Supertyphoon “Yolanda” that hit most of the Visayas region four years ago.
Rep. Alfredo Benitez of the 3rd District of Negros Occidental said in a text message on Thursday that the committee on housing and urban development, which he heads would conduct the inquiry starting on Sept. 18.
Lawmakers aghast at ‘Yolanda’ shelters
By: DJ Yap - 07:52 AM September 07, 2017
“Worse than a piggery” was how one member of the House of Representatives on Wednesday described government bunkhouses for survivors of Supertyphoon Yolanda (international name: Haiyan) in 2013.
Many housing units in resettlement areas had unsafe foundations with walls so thin that residents were told not to hammer nails into them, another congressman said. The beam in at least one house toppled over, he added.
Members of the House housing and urban development panel were left aghast at the dilapidated shelters for the Yolanda victims which they saw during a visit last week to inspect the “snail-paced” government housing projects in Eastern Visayas.