DAVAO CITY (January 18) — The National Housing Authority (NHA) has allowed 30 of the 191 families from Purok Islam, Barangay Dadiangas South, whose houses were razed by the December 28 , 2018 fire.
The families affected were informal settlers, they were provided temporary shelter at the gymnasium of the Ireneo Santiago National High School.
NHA General Manager Marcelino Escalada in an interview told NewsLine.ph, said they allowed the qualified families to take over the unoccupied units originally allocated for the members of the police and the military in Guardians Hill, Purok Upper London, Barangay Bawing.
The Guardian’s Hill was originally built for the members of the Philippine National Police and the Armed Forces of the Philippines (PNP/AFP).
Escalada said “Since President Rodrigo Duterte ordered to upgrade the housing units for the PNP/AFP many of the supposed beneficiaries opted to get the new models, so many units are left unoccupied.”
Those who qualified for the NHA housing program, according to Escalada can avail the units but they should promptly pay the P200 monthly amortization  for four years.
“We have guidelines and qualifications and those who qualified were allowed to get a unit,” Escalada added.
Mayor Ronnel Rivera said he sent a letter request to Escalada to request for assistance which the later immediately granted.
Rivera on Thursday said they transferred the selected beneficiaries.
“These units were provided with basic amenities and essential utilities like electricity and water,” Rivera in a statement emphasized.
The NHA beneficiaries were those who qualified for relocation based on the profiling conducted by the city government, through the City Housing and Land Management Office.
Based on the NHA guidelines, beneficiaries cannot rent out a unit nor sell the same.-Jiann A. Padillo/NewsLine.ph
