City govb’t, NHA break ground, turnover of houses to internally displaced persons

City govb’t, NHA break ground, turnover

of houses to internally displaced persons

ZAMBOANGA CITY (ZNS) – The city government and the National Housing Authority (NHA) marked Tuesday the first anniversary of the 20-day September 2013 standoff with groundbreaking and turnover of permanent housing units to internally displaced persons (IDPs).

The standoff started September 9 after hundreds of Moro National Liberation Front (MNLF) members loyal to MNLF founding-chair Nur Misuari infiltrated at least five coastal barangays in this city.

Mayor Ma. Isabelle Climaco-Salazar and NHA District Manager Eng’r. Al-Kwarizimi Indanan spearheaded the two events--groundbreaking for the rehabilitation project in Barangay Mariki and turnover of 120 duplex type permanent shelters in Paniran, Barangay Sta. Catalina.

The barangays of Mariki and Sta. Catalina were among the most affected areas in the 20-day standoff. The others were barangays Rio Hondo, Sta. Barbara.

Indanan said the rehabilitation project in Barangay Mariki involves the construction of 642 units of houses in stilts worth Php137,720,620.2.

Indanan said the beneficiaries are the Badjaos “fire victim-families who used to reside in the same place.”

He said the target completion date of the project is June 24, 2015.

He said the beneficiaries of the 120 duplex-type permanent shelters are the Paniran Resettlement Site members, whose houses were razed to the ground during the 20-day standoff.

He said they have “actually constructed” 139 houses instead of 172 units as 33 of the 172 member-families of the Paniran Resettlement Site opted to avail of the Home Materials Assistance (HOMA).

He added that families who opted to avail of the HOMA will have to reconstruct or repair their own houses with materials provided by the NHA.

Indanan said the construction of the remaining 19 housing units are ongoing and near completion.

Indanan said the houses will be turned over to the identified beneficiaries once the construction is completed.

Indanan said the Paniran Resettlement Project is worth Php38,953,573.20. Its target completion date is January 8, 2015. (PNA) (091214)