NHA to build 30,000 houses for storm victims

By Michael Andrew W. Yu
Thursday, January 12, 2012
ABOUT 30,000 houses are set to be constructed, through the National Housing Authority (NHA), for the residents displaced by Tropical Storm Sendong in Iligan and Cagayan de Oro cities.
Vice President Jejomar Binay, who is also the chairperson of the Housing and Urban Development Coordinating Council, said Wednesday that the housing project also covers those living in danger zones, based on the directive of President Benigno Aquino.
Binay said the local government units should identify those who will only be given houses or both house and lot.

“Those affected with their houses damaged but are living in non-danger areas will be given houses only while a house-and-lot package will be provided to those living in danger areas,” he said during his visit in Cagayan de Oro on Wednesday.
Considered as high risk areas or danger zones, according to the NHA, is 20 meters away from waterways, while beyond 20 meters is considered non-danger zone or low to medium risk areas.
Binay said Secretary Jesse Robredo of the Department of Interior and Local Government (DILG) will lead the coordination with local government officials and the Philippine National Police (PNP) “for proper and orderly relocation.”
According to NHA Assistant General Manager Froilan Kampitan, the identified permanent relocation sites in Cagayan de Oro are Sitio Calaanan in Barangay Canitoan and barangays Lumbia, Gusa and Indahag.
The NHA said it targets to identify the beneficiaries by January, while site identification and project implementation would be from January to June. It said relocation will start in April while “Estate Management and Community Development” will be from April onwards.
Based on the data from NHA, there were at least 11,100 damaged houses in Iligan City and 18,436 in Cagayan de Oro.
The NHA said the resettlement program with housing components and facilities will be within 20-meter danger areas and housing material assistance and site upgrading (subject to geo-hazard clearance) for non-danger zones.
Related to this, Iligan City Mayor Lawrence Cruz is urging the public who have properties to donate land to be used as resettlement area for “Sendong” victims.
This came after the relocation sites in Iligan City is not enough for the huge number of families to be relocated.
Cruz said there are still 20,000 flood victims staying in evacuation centers; and the City Government needs at least 35 to 40 hectares of land.
“The relocation areas we have are not enough to accommodate them. We only have 18 hectares. We are still looking for lands while we take care of the evacuees’ basic needs like food, sanitation and potable water,” he said.
The identified 18-hectare relocation sites in Iligan City are located in Sta. Elena Village and Kapuso Village in Barangay Mandulog.
Cruz said they target to build 5,000 houses, while the Mines and Geo-sciences Bureau (MGB) hastens the geo-hazard mapping in the identified relocation sites.
“We will start construction of the initial 300 houses on January 25,” he said, adding that three geologists are now in Iligan to identify danger zones and “buildable” areas in the city.
The City Government of Iligan has reportedly received a total of P367 million as donation both from government and private sectors.
Published in the Sun.Star Cagayan de Oro newspaper on January 13, 2012.
http://www.sunstar.com.ph/cagayan-de-oro/local-news/2012/01/12/nha-build-30000-houses-storm-victims-200292