National Housing Authority General Manager Joeben Tai. (PNA file photo)
MANILA – The National Housing Authority (NHA) on Friday began distributing PHP10,000 in financial aid to more than 15,000 families whose houses were damaged and destroyed by Super Typhoon Odette in Palawan in December 2021.
NHA General Manager Joeben Tai said the financial help was part of the Special Emergency Housing Assistance Program (EHAP) that benefits 15,463 families from Puerto Princesa City, and the towns of Roxas, San Vicente, Taytay, and El Nido, all in Palawan.
Under the NHA Special EHAP, each family will receive PHP10,000 under NHA Memorandum Circular 2021-070, wherein the NHA regional offices hit by the typhoon are authorized to release additional funding to be distributed to each qualified family beneficiary as a grant for the rebuilding of their houses, regardless of the extent of damage.
This program is the NHA’s response to Presidential Directive 2021-074 instructing concerned government agencies to provide assistance to families in Odette-affected areas.
NHA regional manager Roderick Ibañez and Special Assistant to the GM Rovin Andrew Feliciano represented Tai in the two-day ceremonial distribution of the PHP8,240,000 financial assistance for 824 families in the affected areas in Palawan on November 11 and 12.
In his video message, the NHA chief assured other family beneficiaries who were not part of the ceremonial event that they would still receive their cash grants in the following days and weeks through the help of their Mimaropa office.
The Mimaropa region covers the provinces of Mindoro Oriental, Mindoro Occidental, Marinduque, Romblon, and Palawan.
“Sa iba pong apektadong pamilya na nasa listahan ng benepisyaryo ng tulong pinansyal ngunit hindi makatatanggap ngayon, huwag po kayong mag-alala dahil tuloy-tuloy po ang gagawing pamamahagi ng cash assistance ng NHA sa susunod na mga araw at linggo (To the other affected families who are on the list of beneficiaries for financial assistance but will not receive the aid today, don’t you worry because the distribution of the NHA cash assistance will continue in the coming days and weeks),” Tai said.
“Ang NHA po ay inyong kaagapay sa pagharap sa inyong bagong buhay (The NHA is your partner in facing your new life).”
During the distribution of cash assistance on Friday, 200 families in Puerto Princesa City, Roxas, San Vicente, and Taytay attended, while 24 families were present in El Nido.
In total, the NHA has already released PHP2.39 billion in financial assistance since the NHA chief assumed his post on August 1. (PNA)
