P174-M housing project for ‘Yolanda’ survivors finally starts

On this 4.6-hectare lot in Barangay Batad Viejo, Batad, Iloilo 608 houses for survivors of super typhoon “Yolanda” would be constructed – nearly five years after the disaster in November 2013. The P174-million project of the National Housing Authority had a groundbreaking on Sept. 8, 2018.

ILOILO City – Nearly five years after super typhoon “Yolanda” struck Batad, Iloilo the second housing project for survivors of 2013’s disaster in the northern Iloilo town has finally started.

The P174-million project of the National Housing Authority (NHA) in Barangay Batad Viejo, Batad had a groundbreaking on Saturday. Mayor Pedro Alarcon led it.

A total of 608 houses would be built on a 4.6-hectare lot.

The contractor is Hercar Construction Corp.

“Yolanda” hit northern Iloilo on November 2013. But bidding for the project was held only in October 2017, said Herminio Carreon, owner of Hercar Construction Corp.

Each housing unit would cost P284,00.

Carreon said his company’s work would also include water and electricity provisions, and concreting of roads in the housing project site.

The contractor has been given 335 days or 11 months to complete the project.

This is Phase II of NHA’s housing program for Batad’s “Yolanda” survivors. The first phase in Barangay Hamod, Batad had 1,000 housing units.

Carreon said work on the second phase would be faster.

His Hercar Construction Corp. was also the contractor of NHA’s controversial P290-million housing project for typhoon survivors in Barangay Bacjawan Sur, Concepcion, Iloilo.

Carreon said a dearth in construction materials delayed the Concepcion project that covered 1,000 housing units.

The quality of the houses was also questioned.

Construction started in 2016 or three years after the “Yolanda” disaster.

SOURCE: Panay News

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