RELOCATION. The 770 units of the housing project built by the National Housing Authority (NHA) are expected to be awarded to Super Typhoon Yolanda victims before yearend. Eby Archangel Butiong from secretariat of the Provincial Housing Board Task Force (PHBTF) Lugta, said in an interview Thursday (July 27, 2023) the construction of the drainage system of the relocation site will start next month. (PNA photo courtesy of Eby Archangel Butiong)
SAN JOSE DE BUENAVISTA, Antique – A total of 770 families rendered homeless by Super Typhoon Yolanda in 2013 in Antique are expected to transfer to their permanent homes at a relocation site in Barangay Lugta in the municipality of Laua-an before this year ends.
Eby Archangel Butiong, head of the Provincial Housing Affairs and Resettlement Office (PHARO) and the secretariat for the Provincial Housing Board Task Force (PHBTF) Lugta, said Thursday the preparation for the program of work is being fast-tracked so the construction of the drainage system at the site can start next month.
“With the approval of the Antique provincial board for the requested PHP10 million-budget for the construction of the box culvert and reinforced concrete canal at the relocation site in Barangay Lugta, the Provincial Engineering Office (PEO) is now preparing the program of work,” Butiong said in a media interview.
Laua-an town refused to accept the project built by the National Housing Authority (NHA) for Yolanda victims because the site gets flooded during heavy downpour due to the lack of a drainage system.
President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. during an aerial ocular inspection after Typhoon Paeng in October 2022 ordered Antique Governor Rhodora Cadiao to address the flooding and make the site habitable.
“Governor Cadiao, in order to help resolve the flooding problem, created the PHBTF composed of the Department of Public Works and Highways, NHA, Laua-an LGU and other government agencies,” Butiong said.
A PHP10 million budget chargeable under the 20 percent Development Fund of the province was approved by the Provincial Board on July 3 this year to be used for the drainage.
Another PHP2 million was allocated by the RR Encabo Constructors Inc., the contractor of the relocation site, for the purchase of 10 lots that will be affected by the construction of the drainage system.
“Based on the survey, about 2,147.85- square meter lot along the relocation site will have to be acquired for the drainage system,” Butiong said.
Simultaneous with the construction of the drainage, the contractor will also repair the 770 housing units to make them liveable for beneficiaries.
The beneficiaries will also be provided livelihood training by other agencies that are part of the PHBTF so they would have jobs when they transfer to the relocation site. (PNA)
