The Local Government Unit (LGU) of the municipality Hagonoy in Davao del Sur is seeking the assistance of national government for a relocation site intended for the quake victims.
Engineer Rolando Teves Jr, regional manager of the regional office of the National Housing Authority (NHA 11), disclosed that Hagonoy Mayor Franco Calida plans to seek help from Budget Secretary Wendel Avisado for the acquisition of land for the affected residents particularly those whose houses were totally damaged after the series of earthquakes that jolted Southern Mindanao.
“Nag-istorya pud mi ni Mayor Calida of Hagonoy ingon siya magpatabang siya kay wala sila pondo na ipalit ug yuta. Siguro mangayo siya ug hinabang sa national government aron matagaan siya ug funding aron makapalit siya ug yuta. Sulti niya mag sulat siya sa DBM Secretary para mangayo ug funding,” Teves said.
Teves said NHA 11 is conducting field investigations in the areas identified as relocation sites for those affected of the series of earthquakes in Davao Region.
“We are are conducting field investigations for the relocation sites and hopefully if okay na we can immediately start the building of the housing” he said.
He said LGUs of the municipalities of Padada, Kiblawan, Matanao, and Bansalan are also on the lookout for relocation sites. He said they are still determining identified sites if these are safe and buildable zones based on the evaluation the Mines and Bureau Sciences (MGB) and the Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology (PHIVOLCS).
“The area for Kiblawan is yet to be determined as well as Padada, Matanao and Bansalan. I think ang Matanao LGU naa na sila napalit na yuta but we are in the process of evaluating it tan-awon nato kung safe ug buildable ug layo sa fault lines. Ongoing pa ang atong field investigations for verifications,” Teves said.
He said they are expecting to implement the housing project before the end of first quarter of next year.
Teves said under the calamity program of NHA they have allocated a budget of P260,000 per permanent house free of charge for the beneficiaries.
“But the land will be acquired by the LGU.
Ang atong programa sa pabahay is for those areas declared as “no build zone” kay delikado na ug dapat na sila pangitaan ug location ug buhatan sila ug mga balay,” Teves said.
The municipality of Magsaysay in Davao del Sur was the first to acquire land for relocation site. The said municipality is among the hardest hit areas of the series of earthquakes.
The site, which is about three hectares, is where permanent houses will be built for the 110 families including those from Purok 6 Malawanit in the municipality of Magsaysay, which was declared as “no build zone” after a landslide happened during the earthquake in October this year.
“That is why ang mayor nagdeklara ibalhin na ang mga tao kay delikado na ang lugar.
According to Teves, once documents will be submitted they can start building permanent houses for the residents. He said they are targeting to start the construction of the houses in two months time.
NHA 11 has distributed financial assistance to the quake victims in the municipality of Padada last Sunday.
During the ceremonial distribution arranged by the office of Senator Christopher Lawrence “Bong” Go at Quirino Gymnasium, NHA 11 extended financial assistance of P30,000 for totally damaged houses while P20,000 for partially damaged.
“Padayon ta sa pag pahigayon sa distribution ato lang i-schedule taga munisipyo,” Teves said.
