TURNOVER. Laua-an Mayor Aser Baladjay (center)receives the ceremonial key for the housing units during the turnover ceremony led by Sen. Imee R. Marcos (3rd from left) in Barangay Lugta, Laua-an on Thursday (Dec. 14, 2023). National Housing Authority Regional Director Hermes Jude Juntilo and Antique Governor Rhodora J. Cadiao (5th and 6th from left), and other local officials of Antique witnessed the ceremony. (PNA photo by Annabel Consuelo J. Petinglay)
SAN JOSE DE BUENAVISTA, Antique – An initial 550 families displaced by Super Typhoon Yolanda in 2013 finally received their housing units following the official turnover of the 770-unit relocation site in a ceremony held in Barangay Lugta in the Municipality of Laua-an on Thursday.
The remaining 220 families will receive their units next year upon completion of some rehabilitation works in the housing projects.
“Today is indeed a historic day for the people of Laua-an,” said Senator Imee R. Marcos, who led the turnover together with National Housing Authority (NHA) Regional Director Hermes Jude Juntilo and Antique Governor Rhodora J. Cadiao.
In her message during the turnover, Marcos recalled the strong typhoon caused massive devastation in various parts of the country.
The same families displaced by Yolanda again suffered devastation due to Typhoon Paeng in 2022.
The local government of Laua-an did not accept the housing project constructed by NHA amid its completion in 2017 due to a flooding problem.
Gerlina Abedaño, a 45-year-old housewife and resident of Barangay Virginia, felt relieved receiving her Certificate of Acceptance for the housing unit.
“The roofing of our house was blown away during Typhoon Yolanda,” she said, adding that slowly they rebuilt their house while waiting for the government housing project.
Another beneficiary Ma. Liza Manuel said they only repaired their makeshift house after a tree uprooted by the strong wind damaged the roofing.
“The NHA housing unit is really a big Christmas gift for us,” she said.
Laua-an Mayor Aser Baladjay, in an interview, said the municipal council authorized him to accept the housing project after the provincial government of Antique addressed the flooding issue.
“We are so happy that before the end of 2023, the beneficiaries were finally able to receive their housing units,” Baladjay said. (PNA)
