Tuesday, February 26, 2019
BY GILBERT P. BAYORAN

Typhoon Yolanda victims in Negros Occidental, who are beneficiaries of the 27,055 permanent housing units, including those in EB Magalona, will no longer pay for them, National Housing Authority official Susana Nonato announced yesterday.

This is for free, Nonito, head of the NHA Project Implementing Team, said, apparently referring to housing units constructed by NHA developers for Yolanda victims in the Visayas.

Each 40-square meter lot housing unit costs P290,000, said Nonito, who turned over yesterday the 1,168 permanent housing units located at Tumandok Village in Brgy. Santo Niño, EB Magalona, to municipal officials led by Mayor Marvin Malacon.

Malacon yesterday said that an initial 150 families, whose homes were destroyed by Typhoon Yolanda in 2013, may now occupy their permanent houses at the relocation site.

He added that the relocation site for super typhoon Yolanda victims will have a covered court, the construction of which is now ongoing, training center, a three-storey elementary school, as well as a flea market, soon.

The list of the next batch of 500 beneficiaries has already been validated, and they are expected to occupy their new homes, after completion of some requirements, Malacon added.

Last week, NHA also turned over the 1,992 housing units to Yolanda victims in Brgy. E Lopez, Silay City, to Silay City officials headed by Mayor Mark Golez.

Rep. Alfredo Benitez, who chairs the House committee on Housing and Urban Development, reminded housing beneficiaries that they are not allowed to sell the unit.

Benitez, who authored the bill creating the Department of Human Settlements in the House Representatives, also asked the beneficiaries to inform them on what is lacking in the housing relocation site, so that he can refer the matter to the NHA for appropriate action.

A total of 5,481 units of “Yolanda” permanent housing has been granted to qualified beneficiaries in five cities and two towns in Negros Occidental.

NHA developers also constructed 205,000 permanent homes for super typhoon victims in Iloilo, Cebu,, Samar, Leyte, Palawan, Masbate, aside from Negros Occidental.*