Families in Barangay Caridad who lost their homes in the 2019 province-wide earthquake finally received 52 permanent shelters from the National Housing Authority 12 (NHA-12) of Soccsksargen.
This PHP149.6 million project is a portion of the PHP15 million allotted for the construction of the 517 dwelling units in five villages impacted by the earthquake.
Recipients include New Caridad (52 dwellings), Paraiso (140), Daig (140), Batang (63), and Magbok (122 houses), all of which were seriously damaged in the powerful October 2019 earthquake.
Hindered by logistic challenges
The project was finished in spite of a few obstacles, including planning, obtaining permits and licenses, dealing with the pandemic in 2020, and the bidding procedure, according to NHA-12 Director Zenaida M. Cabiles.
Five hectares of land in Barangay Caridad were purchased by the local government unit for use as housing, barangay, and school sites. In addition, it will supply the recipients with water and power, two vital necessities for the housing project.
The permanent dwelling units are among the 517 units that the NHA in Tulunan developed for the designated recipients.
The construction of each apartment, which has a lot size of 80 square meters and a floor area of 27.50 square meters, costs P289,500.
Boosted by various sectors
The National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council-Office of Civil Defense (OCD) provided funding for the project, which was carried out under the National Housing Authority's (NHA) Housing Assistance Program for Calamity Victims.
The Department of Science and Technology's Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology (DOST-Phivolcs) and the Department of Environment and Natural Resources' Mines and Geosciences Bureau (DENR-MGB) were the two government agencies which recommended that all of the beneficiaries relocate.
