Cabinet Secretary Karlo Nograles led the recent turnover of 250 free housing units in Tolosa, Leyte together with officials of the National Housing Authority and the local government beneficiary in an effort he called “a last step to closing the Yolanda chapter, so that lives could finally move on and families and communities rebuilt.”
“We are providing decent and permanent housing plus livelihood opportunities which are crucial during this challenging period caused by the ongoing Covid-19 pandemic,” Nograles said.
The Cabinet Secretary, who also heads Task Force Zero Hunger, stressed that they are coordinating with the private sector for partnerships in creating community farms so that livelihood and income-opportunities would take root in the resettlement areas
The virtual turnover was held for the St. Michael Residences location in Brgy. Tanghas, Tolosa, Leyte under NHA Eastern Visayas’ Yolanda Permanent Housing Project.
The Malacañang official noted that since becoming chairperson of the Inter-agency Task Force for the Unified Implementation and Monitoring of Rehabilitation and Recovery Projects and Programs in Yolanda-affected Areas in 2019, they have distributed 24,755 free housing units in various areas throughout Region 8.
Completed housing units can be found in the following localities: Carigara, Leyte (2,285 units); Inopacan, Leyte (133 units); Tacloban City, Leyte (9,032 units); Guiuan, Eastern Samar (610 units); Ormoc City, Leyte (1,419 units); Cabucgayan, Biliran (258 units); Biliran, Biliran (1,265 units); Almeria, Biliran (405 units); Basey, Samar (3,926 units); Burauen, Leyte (187 units); Baybay, Leyte (356 units); MacArthur, Leyte (112 units); Mercedes, Eastern Samar (139 units); Gen. MacArthur, Eastern Samar (234 units); Quinapondan, Eastern Samar (623 units); Sta. Fe, Leyte (500 units); Balangiga, Eastern Samar (383 units); Hernani, Eastern Samar (713 units); Almeria, Biliran (524 units); Lawaan, Eastern Samar (949 units); Villaba, Leyte (358 units); San Isidro, Leyte (94 units); and Tolosa, Leyte (250 units);
Nograles thanked Mayor Maria Ofelia Alcantara and Vice Mayor Rodolfo Legaspi as well as the councilors and other LGU officers and staff for their full support to the Duterte administration’s housing endeavor.
“We also commend the National Housing Authority, led by General Manager Marcelino Escalada, Regional Manager Engr. Dodong Antiniero, District Manager Marilyn Lauzon, and the hardworking public servants at the NHA regional and district office for their unwavering dedication and commitment to finish the project despite numerous challenges,” he added.
The Cabinet Secretary, who also heads Task Force Zero Hunger, stressed that they are coordinating with the private sector for partnerships in creating community farms so that livelihood and income-opportunities would take root in the resettlement areas
Mayor Alcantara, in behalf of the LGU, expressed gratitude to President Duterte, Nograles and the NHA for completing the housing projects and assuring the people of Leyte that government was actively working to help the people and actively uplifting the lives of their constituents in Tolosa.
