ADDITIONAL 5,000 YOLANDA HOUSING UNITS DISTRIBUTED IN ILOILO – NOGRALES

Karlo Nograles

Cabinet Secretary Karlo Nograles as Chairman of the IATF Yolanda, NHA and the LGU beneficiary, distributed an additional 5,000 free housing units in Carles, Iloilo last Wednesday, March 17, 2021 as part of the Duterte administration’s commitment to fulfill all its Yolanda housing commitments by 2022.

The turn over was done virtually, and was the 27th such online ceremony conducted on account of the ongoing Covid-19 pandemic.

Since assuming the chairmanship of the Interagency Task Force for the Unified Implementation and Monitoring of Rehabilitation and Recovery Projects and Programs in Yolanda-affected Areas, Nograles has turned over 31,036 free housing units to different municipalities in Region 6.

“We thank LGU officials led by Mayor Siegfredo Betita, Vice Mayor Arnold Betita III as well as Congressman Raul “Boboy” Tupaz for their all-out support in ensuring these units were delivered on schedule,” expressed the Malacañang official. The 5,000 housing units of the Yolanda Permanent Housing Project included the following: St. Therese People’s Village Site 1 - 1,000 units, St. Therese People’s Village Site 2 - 500 units, Abong People’s Village Site 1 - 1,000 units, Abong People’s Village Site 2 - 500 units, Abong People’s Village Site 3 - 500 units, Bolo People’s Village - 500 units, and Guinticgan Village Phase 1 - 1,000 units. The new deliveries are on top of the 2,500 houses previously turned over by the IATF Yolanda and the NHA on November 2019, with another 3,208 on October 2020.

Nograles made special mention of the NHA leadership led by NHA General Manager Marcelino Escalada, Regional Manager Engr. Antonio Del Rosario and District Manager Fe Jamoyot who all worked hard to ensure the timely completion of the massive construction undertaking.

“All the houses and communities we build have adequate basic facilities. We will also also put up a cohesive livelihood infrastructure so that our beneficiaries will be up and running with their resettlement. The Task Force has likewise partnered with Pilipinas Kontra Gutom for the creation of community farms in these areas.”

The Cab Sec, who also heads the government’s Zero Hunger Task Force, added that “we encourage everyone, using the “whole-ofnation” concept, to join us in fighting hunger and poverty nationwide. Kailangan natin magtulungan. Our immediate goals are to increase farmers’ incomes, stabilitize food security and provide nutritious food especially to children.”

Speaking on behalf of the LGU, Vice Mayor Betita thanked President Duterte, Nograles and the NHA for making the people of Carles just as important as the other housing beneficiaries in Region 6, stressing “this gift of housing uplifts our humanity and makes us feel that the government is sincere in its efforts at helping the long-suffering victims of Typhoon Yolanda.”