AKLAN — A total of 230 housing units under the National Housing Authority’s (NHA) Yolanda Permanent Housing Program (YPHP) were formally turned over to beneficiaries in Barangay Nalook, Kalibo, Aklan on Wednesday, December 17.
The units form part of the first batch of a 381-unit housing project intended for families severely affected by Super Typhoon “Yolanda” in 2013. The remaining 151 units are still under construction, according to the NHA.
NHA Region 6 Regional Manager Engr. Rizaldo G. Cabahog said the housing units were designed to provide safe and permanent shelter to disaster-affected families as part of the government’s long-term rehabilitation efforts.
Each loftable-type unit has a floor area of about 22 square meters and sits on a 40-square-meter lot, with an estimated cost ranging from P400,000 to P434,000 per unit, the NHA said.
Cabahog added that while beneficiaries may already occupy the houses, they are responsible for the installation of water and electricity connections. He also noted that the processing of land and housing titles is still ongoing.
To ensure proper community management, Cabahog encouraged beneficiaries to organize a homeowners association (HOA), which will serve as the primary body for addressing concerns within the housing site and for coordinating any planned renovations, subject to NHA guidelines.
The NHA reminded beneficiaries to comply with program rules, including the strict prohibition against renting out the units or using them for illegal activities such as gambling or as storage facilities.
Beneficiaries were likewise advised to immediately occupy their assigned units, as prolonged non-occupancy or violations of housing policies may result in disqualification from the program.
The turnover underscores the government’s continuing efforts to provide secure housing and help restore normalcy to communities displaced by major disasters./PN
