‘Yolanda’ survivors: Charge two more

Grassroots members of the CYSP alleged that NHA regional officials are equally responsible for the failed housing projects

TACLOBAN CITY – Survivors of the onslaught of typhoon “Yolanda” on Sunday asked to include at least two more officials of the National Housing Authority (NHA) regional office in Eastern Visayas in the Presidential Anti-Corruption Commission

(PACC) complaint before the Office of the Ombudsman.

The plea was in relation to the anomalous implementation of the Yolanda Permanent Housing Program.

Grassroots members of the Coalition of Yolanda Survivors and Partners (CYSP) alleged that NHA regional officials are equally responsible for the failed housing projects as they monitored the faulty construction of houses meant for the typhoon victims.

Officers and members of Uswag Este, an alliance of community-based associations of “Yolanda” housing beneficiaries in Eastern Samar tagged NHA regional manager Rizalde Mediavillo and regional estate management specialist Dorcas Secreto for inclusion in the case.

They vowed to file their complaint before the PACC. Twelve NHA officials are to be investigated by the Ombudsman.

“It should not only be those people in the national office of NHA who should be liable for the ‘Yolanda’ housing mess, but equally liable are those in the local office. They are the ones who monitor the implementation on the ground,” Lita Bagunas, Uswag Este president, said.

The group is also asking President Rodrigo Duterte to look into the construction being handled by the new contractors, especially in the Balangiga town.

“We are appealing to the President to have somebody look into the implementation being done by the new contractor of the housing project in the Balangiga,” Imelda Tacalan, a leader of housing beneficiaries in Balangiga, aired.

Balangiga town was the center of numerous complaints in the construction of permanent houses when a congressional committee investigation

Twelve NHA officials are to be investigated by the Ombudsman.

found substandard materials were used for their construction.

The first contractor was J. C. Tayag Builders Inc. (JCTBI), which bagged a contract to construct 2,559 units in four municipalities, including Balangiga, at a cost of P741.53 million.

It should not only be those people in the national office of NHA who should be liable for the “Yolanda” housing mess but equally liable are those in the local office.

According to PACC, the contractor completed only 36 houses or 1.41 percent when the contracts were terminated on 27 November 2017.

In 2017, former House Committee on Housing and Urban Development chairman Rep. Albee Benitez found undersized steel bars and rebars were used to construct the 36 houses.

Early beneficiaries reported that their houses swayed, claiming it was a sign of a weak structure.

The houses were then recommended for demolition.

After that, Phintecstar took over the contract from JCTBI Instead of demolishing the structures, however, the new contractor only repainted the houses.

“We volunteer to demolish those houses if the contractor cannot do it. We cannot risk the lives of our families living in those houses,” she said.

Uswag Este is calling on the House and the Senate to disclose the results of their probes on the “Yolanda” housing projects.

“We are demanding release the results of the investigations so that whatever findings can be rectified in the ongoing construction of the new contractors,” Bagunas said.

“They asked for our cooperation and we gave it to them. We deserve to know the results,” she said.