NHA closely monitoring house construction for displaced Marawi residents

MARAWI CITY, Philippines — Contractors of the various housing projects here are working double time  to catch up the December 21 deadline as the government plans to turn over 600 fully complected homes to the displaced Marawi residents  this Crhistmas.

National Housing Authority General Manager Marcelino P. Escalada Jr. told Newsline.ph “We are closely monitoring the ground works in coordination with other line agencies under the framework of Task Force Bangon Marawi in the hope that we can turn over 600 units during the Christmas season.”

Escalada emphasized “we are building a liveable and comfortable homes for the displaced residents of Marawi who have suffered enough during the five-month siege.

“Either transitory or permanent home, it must be liveable and comfortable,” Escalada added.

As its is now, the NHA established the 11-hectare relocation site in barangay  Sagongsongan which is located in the boundaries of Marawi City and the municipality of Saguiaran.

The government is set to provide the housing needs of the over 5,000 families all from the 24 barangays of Marawi City.

While the Department of Public Works and Highways prepare the road networks at the relocation sites, Internally Displaces Persons (IDPs) undergo psycho-social therapy at the evacuation centers in Baloi and Pantar.

The Department of Social Services and Development have completed the distribution of family packs and stuff for the IDP’s in preparation for their return to their respective communities.

The IDPs are allowed to return homes as soon as the Joint Task Force Ranao issues clearance for their re-entry.

The NHA houses are equally divided into  22-square meter single detached houses with each unit costing an estimated PHP160,000.

The beneficiaries are expected to be in their new homes before December 25.

While the residents who have returned to their houses were given a sack of rice from the World Food Program.

Eduardo del Rosario, chair of the Housing and Urban Development Coordinating Council who heads the Task Force Bangon Marawi during the inter-agency coordination meeting two weeks ago emphasized that affected families must be given support by various agencies from food to livelihood and shelter as they will be rebuilding their lives.

For the returning families, Del Rosario stressed that water and power should be provided three days before their “Homecoming”.

As it is now, ground works are undertaken in all resettlement areas.-Editha Z. Caduaya/Newsline.ph