NHA inspects housing sites in quake-hit Mindanao, readies aid for affected families

The Manila Times

NHA inspects housing sites in quake-hit Mindanao, readies aid for affected families

MANILA, Philippines — The National Housing Authority (NHA) has ordered a rapid assessment of the agency’s project sites in Mindanao, especially in areas affected by the 7.8 earthquake that struck the Sarangani province. NHA General Manager Joeben Tai, interviewed by The Manila Times via Viber, directed its Regions 9 (Zamboanga Peninsula), 11 (Davao Region), 12 (SOCCSKSARGEN), and 13 (Caraga) offices to conduct site inspections and evaluate the status of housing units and community facilities. This will ensure the safety of lives and structural integrity of shelters in the resettlement sites, Tai said. "We are currently coordinating with our regional offices in Mindanao and with the local government units of the affected areas to ensure appropriate and swift assistance for our housing beneficiaries and other families severely affected by the earthquake," Tai said. The NHA extends financial assistance to families affected by calamities through its Emergency Housing Assistance Program (EHAP), Assistant General Manager Alvin Feliciano said in a separate interview. Regional offices, together with concerned local government units, monitor housing projects and verify data of both housing beneficiaries and other households for the creation of a master list of EHAP beneficiaries, Feliciano said. Inclusion from the list will grant beneficiaries with partially or totally damaged homes with cash aid for home repair and construction, added Feliciano, a former newsman. Beyond financial assistance, Tai said the NHA was also exploring the construction of new permanent shelters for families whose homes were completely destroyed. This long-term intervention will be evaluated under the agency’s Housing Assistance Program for Calamity Victims (HAPCV). “The NHA continues to work in close coordination with national and local disaster response agencies to monitor the situation on the ground. It has committed to prioritizing the welfare and immediate rehabilitation needs of all affected housing beneficiaries in Mindanao,” the NHA chief said. Reports from the Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology showed that the strong earthquake was felt across Mindanao, most especially toward General Santos City. "Everyone can rest assured that the NHA is ready to deliver programs that will respond to those affected by a disaster such as this, in order to help them get back on their feet again," Tai said. The NHA is an attached agency of the Department of Human Settlements and Urban Development (DHSUD).

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