Contractors told: Finish housing projects ASAP

CEBU, Philippines - Presidential Assistant for the Visayas Michael Lloyd Dino has pressured the contractors of three permanent resettlement centers in northern Cebu to finish the housing units and award it to the families displaced by Super Typhoon Yolanda before the year ends.

Dino yesterday inspected three housing sites in the towns of Daanbantayan, Medellin, and Bantayan. President Rodrigo Duterte tasked Dino during the Yolanda anniversary in Tacloban to see to it that the housing projects for the typhoon victims are completed before Christmas.

Dino required the project engineers to submit a catch-up plan with commitment to make a good number of housing units ready for occupancy by December.

Engingeer Joseph Densing of Hi-Tri Development Corporation promised to turn over 36 out of 650 units in Barangay Maya, Daanbantayan before Christmas.

The Daanbantayan resettlement center is a P187-million project on a 5.5-hectare property with 25-square meter floor area every housing unit.

Densing told the press that they have difficulty securing permits from the municipal government of Daanbantayan. He said his company did not have a notice to proceed but risked to start the project.

He said they are now working on the water connection so the typhoon victims will have potable water before transferring in December.

In Barangay Antipolo, Medellin, Engineer Elizar de la Paz also promised to make 90 out of 631 housing units ready for occupancy by December.

Dino ordered de la Paz of RFN Construction Development Corporation to submit laboratory test to determine the PH level of the water in the P182-million housing project to ensure that it is potable.

De la Paz also promised to Dino to complete all the housing units by April next year.

"Hindi lang certificate ha... Dapat malipatan na talaga," Dino told de la Paz.

 "I am gravely concerned on this project. Kawawa ang mga tawo," he added.

According to de la Paz, the lack of available construction materials delayed the completion of the project.

Another project site is located in Barangay Kabac, Bantayan. The P373-million housing project is said to be the most problematic because of a temporary restraining order issued by the court due to environmental issues since Bantayan Island is considered a "wilderness" and protected area.

Dino, however, convinced Engineer Ma. Larie Bello to proceed with ground works that would not defy the court order.

Nevertheless, Bello of Grandby Trading and Construction, promised to make 100 housing units ready for temporary occupancy before Christmas.The engineer said her company targets to finish 450 units of the Phase 1 by March next year. The project's phase 2, which was awarded in April 2015 was halted due to TRO, while phase 3 has already been bid out.

Dino also asked two representatives from the National Housing Administration, Dante Estrobo and Johndhel John Gocor, to extend assistance to the developers to fast-track the construction.

"We must make ready with their livelihood, provide them with schools, police stations, ambulance, fire stations," Dino said, adding that important utilities like power and water should not be a problem for the new settlers. (FREEMAN)