By Rjay Zuriaga Castor
After a decade-long wait, 550 survivors of super typhoon “Yolanda” in Antique have finally received their housing units from the National Housing Authority (NHA).
Senator Imee Marcos, Antique Governor Rhodora Cadiao and NHA General Manager Joeben Tai led the official turnover ceremony of the 770 housing units to residents of Villa Lugta Nuevo in Laua-an town.
Of the total 770 units, only 550 have been handed over, while the remaining 220 are scheduled to be awarded to other beneficiaries next year.
The housing project, valued at P200 million, features units with a floor area of 28.4 square meters each.
“Ang mga tao hindi na makapaghintay ng sampung taon. Tama na ang sampung taon, now na. Kasi grabe, from Typhoon Yolanda hanggang Typhoon Paeng, antay nang antay ang ating fisherfolks. Finally, you will have your own bahay at last,” said Marcos in the turnover ceremony last week.
[The people can no longer wait for ten years. Ten years is enough. From Typhoon Yolanda to Typhoon Paeng, our fisherfolk have been waiting and waiting. Finally, you will have your own house at last.]
The housing project was completed in 2016 but the local government unit of Laua-an declined acceptance due to the drainage system that caused flooding in the area.
Task Force NHA Lugta was subsequently formed to address the flooding issue and finalize the long-overdue components of the housing project.
The provincial government has also allocated P10 million for a drainage system to resolve the flooding problem.
It can be recalled that during the aerial inspection by President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr., the president directed Cadiao to expedite the turnover process of the units.
The president emphasized that the housing units have to be turned over by December 15 this year.
Around 337 barangays in the Antique were affected by what is considered among the world’s strongest storms.
Reports showed that the super typhoon killed at least 10 people in the province.
