20-September-2017, 10:37:16 AM
SOURCE: House of Representatives Press and Public Affairs Bureau

The House committee on housing and urban development resumed its public hearing on House Resolution No. 599 which seeks to investigate the snail-paced implementation of housing relocation and resettlement projects for those displaced by typhoon Yolanda in Eastern Samar and Tacloban four years ago.

Committee chairman Rep. Alfredo Benitez (3rd District, Negros Occidental) said the committee is serious in its objective to ensure that the government makes good on its promise to deliver new homes to the victims of typhoon Yolanda.

“We’re out to find the appropriate intervention to fast-track housing production and at the same time hold accountable those who have been remiss in their duties in these housing projects,” said Benitez. 

During the hearing, several local government officials of the province sought the assistance of Congress to provide them with sustainable livelihood assistance to augment their income for their families’ growing needs.

They said that water supply, electricity and livelihood remain the top concerns of hundreds of families transferred to resettlement sites.

“We were informed that local government units shoulder their water and electricity needs. This is another burden for LGUs. Nandyan na pumasok ang LWUA sa water sa mga housing units. Sad to say, with all due respect to LUWA, pag pinag-usapan sa ground yung LWUA negative kaagad ang perception ng tao. Dahil tumataas ang rates ng LUWA pag sila ang nagta-take over ng isang water system,” said Balangcaya Mayor Allan Cantado.

Cantado suggested that the funds for the water system in their area be downloaded directly to the LGUs instead of the Local Water Utilities Administration (LWUA) maintaining the operation.

“We suggest at nakita naman namin na may kanya-kanyang budget ang LWUA for the municipalities na may housing projects. Considering that we are the frontrunners, tayo naman ang sinisisi ng tao kapag hindi maayos ang implementation. Kung pagkakatiwalaan ang LGUs, i-down load na lang ang pondo and then we will run the water system sa mga housing units, and we will maintain them para mabilis ang serbisyo sa mga tao,” Cantado added. 

Rep. Ben Evardone (Lone District, Eastern Samar), author of HR 599, asked National Housing Administration (NHA) General Manager Marcelino Escalada and National Economic and Development Authority (NEDA) Assistant Secretary Merceditas Sombilla to consider the suggestion of Cantado to download the funds to the LGUs.

Escalada said that water and power are two major facilities that should be in place prior to occupancy. The housing design of NHA is level three ready for water and it has also a connectivity for power.

“Our installation is ready for connections. The problem really is that there is an external power and water supply scarcity so there is no water and no power supply available. But insofar as the design and the subdivision are concerned, I think NHA has met the minimum requirements providing the design itself,” said Escalada.

“We will enter into a Memorandum of Agreement (MOA) and after that we will download the funds,” he said.

Escalada said LWUA has a P900 million for water budget and P500 million budget in the National Electrification Administration (NEA) for power.

Sombilla said that they will ask if the Department of Budget and Management (DBM) would allow the downloading of funds from LWUA to the LGUs.

LWUA acting department manager area operation for Visayas Nilo Dela Cruz, said the agency is mandated to provide technical and financial service to all municipalities with water district. 

He said LWUA could not just download the funds to LGUs for some reasons. He said that if there is a water district operating in the municipality, they have to disburse the funds through the water district.

“If there is no water district, then we could download the funds to the LGUs and we will not take over the operations,” said Dela Cruz.

The committee came across matters that may require the participation of the House committee on good government and public accountability for a joint referral on the matter. / EAG