Source National Housing Authority
The National Housing Authority (NHA) promised to build permanent homes for more than 22,000 families in high-risk zones in northern Cebu, but not a single one has been completed two years after super typhoon Yolanda struck the area.
As of Oct. 30, land development has started in only five out of 36 resettlement sites in northern Cebu.
The five projects, with an estimated cost of P1 billion, will deliver a total of 2,631 housing units in the towns of Tabuelan, San Remigio, Medellin, Daanbantayan and Bantayan. (See Table)
In a presentation at the Capitol during the second commemoration of typhoon Yolanda yesterday, NHA Engineer Constancio Antiniero said they were doing their best.
Development of all 36 resettlement sites in Cebu will cost P6.57 billion.
This accounts for more than half of the almost P12 billion set aside for livelihood, social services, infrastructure and housing projects in typhoon-hit areas in northern Cebu, the National Economic and Development Authority (Neda) said.
Typhoon Yolanda devastated 15 towns and one city in northern Cebu on Nov. 8, 2013.
Antiniero said no resettlement site has been endorsed in Tuburan and Sogod yet while sites are being identified in Daanbantayan, Sta. Fe and Madridejos. Additional sites were being identified in San Remigio, Medellin, and Bantayan.
Antiniero traced the delay in project implementation to the difficulty of acquiring titled lots in areas declared as “reserves” under a Presidential Declaration, such as in the case of Camotes and Bantayan islands. Another challenge is that prospective beneficiaries refuse to move to the relocation sites, which are far from the sea or their farms.
Other reasons, among others, are: high cost of land; identified sites are covered by the agrarian reform program; some properties are not titled; and absence of power and water services.
Antiniero said NHA has recommended, among others, that a “higher authority” intervene on the land issue and exclude identified socialized housing sites from the declaration of reserves.
The Department of Agrarian Reform is also asked to consider allowing agrarian reform lands to be used as socialized housing sites while the local government units are asked to provide electricity and water.
Antiniero also suggested that information dissemination be conducted by project proponents to the beneficiaries and that national government agencies provide appropriate livelihood programs for the community.
Based on the province’s rehabilitation plan, 122,482 houses were damaged by Yolanda in 2013.
More than 300 resettlement units have been built using earth blocks and in partnership with non-government organizations.
Baltazar Tribunalo Jr., head of the Capitol’s rehabilitation task force, reported that about P269 million was spent in 2014 and P148 million were distributed as financial assistance to affected LGUs, livelihood projects, health services, and shelter assistance, among others. He did not give a breakdown, saying he was pressed for time. Besides, he said the reports of the national government agencies were the priorities yesterday.
Present, among others, were the Department of Agriculture, Department of Social Welfare and Development, Department of Public Works and Highways, Department of Education, and Neda.
Prior to the presentations, Capitol officials kicked off the commemoration with a Mass and the opening of a photo exhibit on the aftermath of the storm.