Cabinet Secretary Karlo Nograles led officials from Task Force Yolanda, the National Housing Authority and local government in distributing 1,533 free housing units in Roxas City, Capiz on Tuesday, March 23, 2021 as part of the government’s commitment to finish all Yolanda housing projects by 2022.
Since assuming the chairmanship of the Inter-agency Task Force for the Unified Implementation and Monitoring of Rehabilitation and Recovery Projects and Programs in Yolanda-affected Areas, Nograles supervised the turnover of 33,391 housing units in various areas in Western Visayas.
“The people of Capiz were also commemorating the Quincentennial or 500th anniversary of the first circumnavigation of the world, of which Panay island and Capiz in particular played an important part of.”
The areas where free houses were distributed in Region 6 are as follows: Ajuy, Iloilo (3,615 units); Altavas, Aklan (393 units); Barotac Viejo, Iloilo (822 units); Carles, Iloilo (10,708 units); Concepcion, Iloilo (1,000 units); Culasi, Antique (1,974 units); Dumangas, Iloilo (1,993 units); Estancia, Iloilo (3,242 units); Ivisan, Capiz (672 units); Jamindan, Capiz (535 units); Laua-an, Antique (1,267 units); Panay, Capiz (1,543 units); Pandan, Antique (1,000 units); Panit-an, Capiz (572 units); Pilar, Capiz (1,354 units); Pontevedra, Capiz (1,168 units), and the latest one in Roxas City, Capiz (1,533 units).
This was the 30th virtual turnover under the Yolanda housing project, located in Jumaguicjic Ville Housing Site 1 & 2 (1,203 units) and Tanza Ville (330 units).
In his message, the Malacañang official said that apart from the housing distribution, “the people of Capiz were also commemorating the Quincentennial or 500th anniversary of the first circumnavigation of the world, of which Panay island and Capiz in particular played an important part of.”
Nograles stressed that the successful housing project was made possible through the cooperation of stakeholders, foremost of which is the National Housing Authority under the leadership of General Manager Marcelino Escalada Jr., Regional Manager Engr. Antonio Del Rosario, District Manager Arch. Jesus Fantilaga, together with Mayor Ronnie Dadivas and other local officials and developers who all contributed to ensuring the timely completion of the massive construction endeavor.
“We have partnered with private sector entities such as Pilipinas Kontra Gutom in building community gardens that can be sources of both food and extra livelihood.”
“We also took care of documentation to ensure that proper titles would be given to the beneficiaries,” the Cabinet Secretary pointed out.
Nograles, who also heads the government’s Zero Hunger Task Force, likewise made the assurance that “facilities and amenities are built into these Yolanda housing communities to properly assist the beneficiaries from Capiz and give them a solid foundation to start anew.”
“We have partnered with private sector entities such as Pilipinas Kontra Gutom in building community gardens that can be sources of both food and extra livelihood. Kailangan natin magtulungan. The private sector has been a key element to the success of our program because of their added expertise which complements our government programs.”
Roxas City Mayor Dadivas in turn thanked President Rodrigo Duterte, Nograles and the NHA for the “timely benefit of housing, especially during the Covid-19 pandemic where people need both material assistance and hope from the national government.”