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BURAUEN, Leyte — Leaders in this province expressed elation to the government's commitment to rebuilding communities destroyed by Typhoon Yolanda 11 years ago, as President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. led the ceremonial turnover of Yolanda Permanent Housing Program (YPHP) projects here.
The president handed over the symbolic keys to the officials from eight municipalities in Leyte, Samar, and Biliran, where the housing projects were built, during the event held at the Burauen Community College Multi-Purpose Building in Burauen, Leyte.
These initiatives are part of the National Housing Authority's (NHA) efforts to provide permanent and decent housing for Yolanda survivors.
The government has so far turned over 1,963 units to the beneficiaries, Marcos said, as he assured the government's commitment to ensuring a more prepared and safe Philippines.
Marcos said that government agencies, such as the National Housing Authority (NHA), the Department of Human Settlements and Urban Development (DHSUD), and the local government, would ensure the housing units were reliable and sustainable.
He also told the housing beneficiaries that they do not have to pay anything to the government.
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"You will get your house and lot for free," Marcos said. "The NHA won't collect amortization because this is a gift to you from the government."
Marcos, however, asked the beneficiaries to take care of their newly provided housing units.
"We built sturdy houses that can ensure your family's safety amid the challenges of nature. This is because of the disaster-resilient housing design meticulously implemented by the National Housing Authority, " the president said.
"Together, let us cherish these homes that will serve as the foundation for a stronger community and a brighter future," he added.
In the same speech, Marcos also ordered the DHSUD and the NHA to explore housing designs that were responsive to climate change.
"To the DHSUD and NHA, I am hoping that you will explore the use of housing designs that are responsive to climate change," he said.
Implemented under the NHA's Yolanda Permanent Housing Program, the housing units are located in Cool Spring Residences, Riverside Community Residences, Mont Eagle Ville Subdivision, Coconut Grove Village, Dagami Town Ville and Pastrana Ville, all in Leyte; Marabut Ville Sites 1 and 2 in Samar; and the Culaba Housing Project in Biliran.
Of the eight housing projects, only the land for the Culaba Housing Project in Biliran is owned by the local government unit. The NHA owns the other seven.
Before the ceremonial turnover, Marcos inspected the Cool Spring Residences in Burauen, which comprised 600 bungalow-type units, each with a lot area of 40 square meters and a floor area of 28.60 square meters.
Meanwhile, Housing Secretary Jerry Acuzar said the agency has allocated a budget to repair, rehabilitate, and complete the units in Tacloban, Leyte within the year.
He said that more than 58,000 units or 88 out of 118 Yolanda housing projects are already completed within Region 8.
Asked how much was allotted, Presidential Communications Office Acting Secretary Cesar Chavez said P176 million was downloaded to the local government of Tacloban while P167 was allocated.
On Nov. 8, 2013, Yolanda took the lives of more than 6,000 people and caused billions worth of damage to agriculture, infrastructure and many other sectors.
Speaker Martin Romualdez highlighted the significance of cooperation between the national government and local partners in addressing housing needs and guaranteeing disaster recovery.
"Each home symbolizes hope, and every project demonstrates our collective efforts toward a brighter future," Romualdez said.
"This is also about restoring dignity and giving our kababayans a chance to rebuild their futures," he added.
The YPHP turnover includes completed housing units in the following communities: Cool Spring Residences in Burauen, Leyte; Riverside Community Residences in Tabontabon, Leyte; Mont Village Subdivision in Tanauan, Leyte; Coconut Grove Village in Julita, Leyte; Marabut Village Sites 1 and 2 in Marabut, Samar; Pastrana Ville in Pastrana, Leyte; Dagami Town Ville in Dagami, Leyte; and Culaba Housing Project in Culaba, Biliran.
The turnover included 3,517 housing units for Typhoon Yolanda-affected households, particularly those living in dangerous or no-build zones.
Each unit has a floor area ranging from 22 to 28.6 square meters and is built on a lot measuring approximately 40 square meters.
For his part, Leyte Gov. Carlos Jericho Petilla identified the ideal housing project as one with a community, emphasizing that the house should be livable and meet the needs of a family.
"Housing projects that I noticed in the past had many challenges, such as no electricity, not enough water supply, problems with the contractor, and being too far from downtown areas," Petilla said.
"What is important in such a project is a connection to the community, as well as a source of livelihood," he added.
Pastrana Municipal Mayor Maritess Marcos expressed gratitude on behalf of her constituents.
"This initiative will greatly assist in the full recovery of the eight municipalities," Mayor Marcos told The Manila Times.
According to the NHA, it has completed 175,728 of the 189,800 target units as of December 2024, including 3,517 units in today's ceremonial transfer, with the remaining 14,072 units projected to be finished by December 2025.
‘NICE MEETING YOU’ President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. shakes hands with some of the recipients of the government’s housing program for victims of Super Typhoon Yolanda in Leyte on Jan. 17, 2025. Marcos led the ceremonial turnover of eight completed housing projects in the province, which bore the brunt of Yolanda’s fury in 2013. PHOTO BY THE PRESIDENTIAL COMMUNICATIONS OFFICE
