NHA to finish land-based housing units by yearend

NHA to finish land-based

housing units by yearend

ZAMBOANGA CITY (ZNS) –The National Housing Authority (NHA) is standing by its commitment to finish and deliver by the end of this year the construction of all land-based housing units for thousands of families displaced by the Zamboanga siege last year.

Engr. Al Indanan, district manager of NHA, made the assurance during a news conference in City Hall yesterday morning, despite what he termed as minor delays in the actual construction works on the permanent homes under the Zamboanga City Roadmap to Recovery and Reconstruction (Z3R) plan.

He said construction of permanent homes in the siege-affected areas had to be suspended to pave the way for the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) to construct the road network first.

He said as of this week  42 completed units had already been turned over at Martha Drive, Sta. Catalina, two units are under construction, while three families opted for Home Materials Assistance worth P30,000 each, for a total of 47 units.

Indanan said 172 housing units were targeted for construction in Paniran, also in Sta. Catalina, however, only 143 units can be constructed, of which 127 units have been completed with 50 units already turned over to the beneficiaries.

This, he explained eight existing units in Paniran will be used for access road by the Z3R Vale Vista Subdivision (Tiao Him Property), another two units will be used for bridge purposes, linking Paniran road to Fishpond road.

In Tulungatung, he said, out of the 383 permanent homes to be constructed, 65 units ongoing, considering these are offsite projects, the constructed decided to develop first the site, road network and drainage system.

For St. Peter with 19 permanent housing units, only 16 units can be produced and completed by October because the DPWH has to develop the interior road.

For Lustre Homeowners Subdivision, the NHA official said construction of 152 permanent homes was about to start, following completion of the site development.

For Islamic Village with 87 target permanent homes with site development and Christian-Muslim Subdivision with 228 permanent homes with site development. “These two projects are slightly delayed to allow the DPWH to complete the road construction. So we had to adjust two projects including the Ayer Village in order to conform to the DPWH design of road elevation,” Indanan further said.

Nonetheless, Indanan stressed that the NHA stands by its commitment that all land-based Z3R projects will be delivered on or before December this year.

For the houses-on-stilts, Engr. Indanan said one was ongoing in Taluksangay for 200 units although the notice to proceed has not yet been issued to the contractor, but the materials have already been ordered and delivered to the site for the actual work to begin anytime soon.

“We also commit to complete Taluksangay projects within the year,” he assured, adding that the housing agency was also committed to complete at least 50% of 642 stilt houses targeted for Mariki.

Meanwhile, Indanan denied allegations that construction materials for permanent homes were found to be below standard, but said everybody is welcome to visit the project site and see for themselves the materials used whether or not they are substandard.

“As far as we are concerned, the construction materials were within the specified standard otherwise, we will stop the construction,” Indanan said. (Vic Larato) (102614)