7 years after ‘Yolanda,’ 6 of 10 families still waiting for shelter

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IN 2014, the National Housing Authority was ordered to build 205,128 housing units to be awarded to families displaced after typhoon “Yolanda” struck the country on Nov. 8, 2013.

The project was supposed to be urgent because the intended recipients are families living in areas determined to be permanent danger zones. But seven years after the disaster, only 128,505 housing units have been constructed, or 62.65 percent completion.

In 2019, the number of planned housing units was reduced to 201,700 because of land disputes, boundary conflicts, and belated realization that some areas picked for resettlement were not suitable.

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Even with the reduced number, the achievement rate would only hit 63.71 percent.

But while the number of erected housing units fail to impress, the occupancy rate is a lot worse.

Based on the 2019 audit of the NHA released September 8, only 71,841 families have moved into the government-built shelters.

From the original target of 205,128 displaced families to be benefited, only 35 percent have accepted. Computing based on the reduced target of 201,700 housing units, the number hardly improves at 35.6 percent.

“The revised target of providing 201,700 housing units for the victims of typhoon Yolanda pursuant to the Comprehensive Rehabilitation and Recovery Plan was not met due to the delayed construction and/or completion of housing units, low occupancy rate and slow pace of transfer,” the Commission on Audit said.

Based on a breakdown presented by the audit team, the biggest number of unoccupied units are located in Region 6 (Western Visayas) with 35,451 housing units standing idle, Region 8 (Eastern Visayas) with 14,839 units, and Region 7 or Central Visayas with 4,810 units.

The offer of a free house failed to stir interest among intended beneficiaries as the audit team noted that in many resettlement areas across the country, even the most basic necessities were not delivered, contrary to the original plan.

Auditors noted the lack of water and power supply and inaccessibility of the homesite to any source of livelihood for the residents.

“The households without power and water connection resorted to illegally connect or tap with their neighbors. Illegal power tapping is a fire hazard that could leave the beneficiaries homeless,” the COA said.

“It is worth mentioning that the responsibility of the NHA does not end in transferring the completed housing project to the concerned municipality. It must also be guaranteed that the basic needs, such as electricity and water supply and means of livelihood are being provided to the beneficiaries,” it added.

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