More funds for Itogon rehab
HELP continues to pour in Itogon, Benguet.
Another P10 million was downloaded to the landslide stricken town by the National Housing Authority.
Marcelino Escalada Jr., NHA general manager turned over the P10M for lot acquisition to be developed as resettlement site for families affected by typhoon Ompong.
This was followed by a memorandum of agreement signing by NHA and Itogon represented by Mayor Victorio Palangdan.
Escalada said the 10 million is an additional response of NHA for the Itogon families who earlier turned over P10 milPHILIPPINE
lion to buy housing materials such as nails, sand and gravel, cement and steel.
The NHA official said the resettlement area will be determined by the local government adding relocation sites are not limited within the municipality which was earlier declared as a geo-hazard zone.
“NHA will not impose restriction na dapat sa Itogon lang. Kapag walang makitang lupa in Itogon, the LGU should find a safer area,” Escalada said
Benguet Governor Crescencio Pacalso meanwhile said Itogon will have a hard time convincing residents if the LGU will find a relocation outside the town.
"The only issue here is,gugustuhin ba ng mga taga Itogon na lumipat somewhere," he quipped.
Senators Sherwin Gatchalian and Joseph Victor Ejercito also visited to town and held a dialogue with the affected residents. Aside from the P20 million from NHA, Itogon also received a P2.5M assistance for the affected families and P500,000 for the local government unit from Valenzuela City.
Ejercito also turned over P1 million from San Juan City, another sister city of Itogon.