Cabinet Secretary Karlo Nograles led the 23rd virtual turnover ceremony of additional Yolanda housing units in Estancia, Iloilo on Wednesday, February 24, 2021 as part of the Yolanda Permanent Housing Project in Region 6.
Just the previous day, Nograles joined local and national officials in a similar online turnover in Capiz.
“We thank and praise Mayor Melina Requinto as well as the other LGU officers and municipal employees for ensuring that the distribution was on schedule for this important legacy project of the Duterte administration,” the Cabinet Secretary said.
The Malacañang official added that “This Yolanda Housing Project in Bulaqueña People’s Village, with a total of 750 completed units, is the fruit of the cooperation of stakeholders and beneficiaries who worked together despite the challenges posed by the ongoing Covid-19 pandemic. Everyone really deserves to be commended for their hard work and determination.”
“We will not stop until we finish our housing commitments to the victims of Yolanda.”
The houses covered by the latest turnover add to the 2,500 already previously distributed in the area last year.
Nograles likewise thanked NHA General Manager Marcelino Jun Escalada, Regional Manager Engr. Antonio Del Rosario and District Manager Fe Jamoyot for ensuring that construction deadlines were met, stressing that it was important to distribute the units at the earliest possible time because they have been long overdue, years after the devastation caused by Typhoon Yolanda.
“Our target is to distribute 10,167 houses more or less spread across 15 housing projects in Western Visayas until April 14, 2021,” noted the former legislator.
Mayor Requinto for her part thanked President Rodrigo Duterte, Nograles and the NHA “for the precious gift of housing. The free units are fitted with basic amenities and are located in communities with land that can be used for livelihood and small-scale agriculture projects. We would forever be grateful to the President for his concern and assistance.”
The houses covered by the latest turnover add to the 2,500 already previously distributed in the area last year.
Nograles made the assurance that all pending constructions will be finished before the President’s term ends, stressing that “pandemic or not, we will complete distribution of more free housing units. The sense of appreciation and gratitude of the people of Visayas spur us to work harder and faster. Kailangan natin magtulungan. We will not stop until we finish our housing commitments to the victims of Yolanda.”
Previously, Task Force Yolanda has already distributed a total of 16,136 free housing units in Western Visayas. In Iloilo, in addition to the 750 units recently turned over in Estancia, previous distributions were in Ajuy (3,615 units), Carles (3,208 units), Estancia (2,492 units), Dumangas (1,993 units) and Concepcion (1,000 units).