With the release of P8 billion from the national government for the permanent housing of supertyphoon Yolanda (Haiyan) victims, the province’s rehabilitation head urged local chief executives in northern Cebu to prepare the relocation sites for the survivors.
Aside from delays in the release of government funds, Task Force Paglig-on head Baltazar Tribunalo said their biggest concern in the reconstruction efforts is the identification of titled land for relocation sites.
“The biggest bottleneck is still the area where the structures will be placed. We will check with the National Housing Authority (NHA),” he said.
He said the task force and the mayors in the 16 affected towns and cities in the province should secure the lots to facilitate the entry of housing units from the NHA.
Commission on Audit (COA) rules require land titles in any government land deal.
He said the glitches in the acquisition of relocation sites in Bantayan Island could soon be solved since there are a number of lots that were granted titles before former president Ferdinand Marcos declared the island as a wilderness area in 1981.
Out of the additional P8 billion for post-typhoon rehabilitation, P1.84 billion will go to northern Cebu through the NHA. The amount is enough to build P6,292 houses.
“Right now, we are still conducting consultations on field. The challenge now is to check and verify if these are suitable sites. If there’s money then it’s better but we have to remember also the needs of the community,” he added.