Turnover of Yolanda houses: Duterte angered by slow implementation of project

TACLOBAN CITY  , Philippines  — President Rodrigo Duterte, for his second visit to Tacloban since he became president, on Thursday led the awarding of houses to 811 out of 1,000 families at the New Hope Village at Barangay Sta. Elena.

Duterte was however visibly angry, as he expressed his disappointment over the slow implementation of the housing project for the survivors of typhoon Yolanda, who were rendered homeless since the disaster struck more than three years ago.

"Galit ako dahil for the past three years, ito lang ang natrabaho ng gobyerno. The last time I came I was not really pleased to find the dire situation. Pinapakita ko lang kunwari, pero talagang asar at galit ako," said the president.

Duterte recalled he was angry when he learned that only 28 families were able to move in to new houses three years after Yolanda ravaged the city. "Until now I am very angry. After three years, the government was only able to accomplish this much … Do not excuse anyone. Only 28 (families) were able to move."

The president, during his speech at the turnover rites of 811 houses, had ordered government offices to transfer all Yolanda-hit families in Tacloban, from coastal communities to the resettlement site, by March this year.

"I'll be back on March to check on the status of the relocation for these victims. July is too much far to finish the building of houses," Duterte openly told government housing officials during the turnover ceremony. He said his housing officials would suffer the consequence if they fail to finish the task within the next two months.

Based on the status of accomplishment report of the National Housing Authority in Tacloban City, at least 14,500 houses should have been built for the Yolanda-displaced families, but as of now only at least 5,000 housing units were completed.

NHA officials in turn vowed to meet the deadline imposed by Duterte. NHA general manager Marcelino Escada Jr. told reporters that the agency is determined to complete the project in Tacloban, as ordered by the president.

On the complaints over allegedly sub-standard construction of the houses, Escada said "these can be addressed."

Tacloban City Mayor Cristina Romualdez earlier said that 80 percent of the 2,000 families left homeless in the 2013 Yolanda were already relocated to their permanent shelters, while families living in the danger zone areas in the city are now also preparing for their eventual transfer of their residence to the northern part of the city, while construction of their houses are now underway.

Romualdez was grateful for the all-out support of the national government, especially to the president, for its serious effort in rebuilding the lives of the people in Tacloban.   (FREEMAN NEWS)