By Jovee Marie de la Cruz - SEPTEMBER 4, 2017

A party-list lawmaker on Monday asked the Commission on Audit (COA) to conduct a special audit on all housing projects under the Yolanda rehabilitation and recovery program.

This, after the House Committee on Housing and Urban Development, chaired by Rep. Alfredo B. Benitez of the Third District of Negros Occidental, uncovered an alleged substandard construction of Yolanda housing projects during the two-day inquiry of the panel in Tacloban City on August 31 and September 1.

Party-list Rep. Gary C. Alejano of Magdalo said victims are still waiting for their houses almost four years after Yolanda hit communities in Eastern Visayas.

“I requested for a COA Special Audit to look into the status of the housing projects under the Yolanda program and especially to validate reports of subcontracting scheme in the implementation of the housing projects and use of substandard materials in the construction,” he said in a statement.

Aside from the COA Special Audit, Alejano also asked the National Housing Authority (NHA)  to provide the pertinent documents regarding the anomalous and substandard housing projects.

“[I am urging them to submit the] list of contractors awarded projects by the NHA, and number, location and status of construction of projects, statement of allocation and obligation, and  financial and physical reports,” he added.

Alejano also shared the anomaly in the subcontracting scheme of the housing projects, wherein winning contractors or bidders of the NHA projects tap local subcontractors for the projects.

“Subcontracting is not allowed, especially without expressed permission from the NHA. This scheme largely caused the delay in implementation and the use of substandard construction materials,” he said.

“Almost all projects under the housing program [in Eastern Samar] are still in different stages of construction,” he added.

During the committee hearing, Benitez’s panel identified the whistle-blower as Engr. Camilo Salazar, a subcontractor, who claimed that some of the subcontractors allegedly used undersized steel bars, or from the standard 10 mm to 8 mm, and even cement with inferior quality in the construction of houses.

“A subcontractor testified before our committee the use of substandard specs in the construction of Yolanda housing units,” Benitez said.

For his part, Rep. Ben P. Evardone of the Lone District of Eastern Samar, chairman the House Committee on Banks and Financial Intermediaries, vowed to make accountable the parties involved in the building of alleged substandard government housing projects.

Meanwhile, Alejano urged President Duterte to address the issues on the Yolanda housing projects in line with his orders of fast-tracking the provision of housing aid.

“The Yolanda issue has been used by many politicians to further their own political interests. Some have been maligned, some have gained, but the fact still remains that the Yolanda victims are still waiting to benefit from this housing program,” he said.