Cabinet Secretary Karlo Nograles, Task Force Yolanda chief, led the distribution of free housing units in coordination with the National Housing Authority (NHA) to 713 families in Hernani, Eastern Samar on Wednesday, April 14, 2021 as part of the Duterte administration’s continuing commitment to provide quality public service to victims of Typhoon Yolanda.
Since assuming the chairmanship of the Inter-agency Task Force for the Unified Implementation and Monitoring of Rehabilitation and Recovery Projects and Programs in Yolanda-affected Areas, Nograles has turned over 18,668 units to different cities and municipalities in Region 8.
The Malacañang official stressed that all the houses have needed basic provisions such as water and electricity, adding the sites would also provide livelihood opportunities to the beneficiaries.
Housing recipients include the following areas in Region 8: Ormoc City, Leyte, (1,419 units); Cabucgayan, Biliran (258 units); Biliran, Biliran (1,265 units); Almeria, Biliran (405 units); Tacloban City, Leyte (8,046 units); Basey, Samar (1,000 units); Burauen, Leyte (187 units); Baybay City, Leyte (356 units); MacArthur, Leyte (112 units); Carigara, Leyte (2,285 units); Guiuan, Eastern Samar (610 units); Inopacan, Leyte (133 units); Mercedes, Eastern Samar (139 units); Gen. MacArthur, Eastern Samar (234 units); Quinapondan, Eastern Samar (623 units); Santa Fe, Leyte (500 units); Balangiga, Eastern Samar (383 units); and the latest in Hernani, Eastern Samar (713 units).
This 35th virtual turnover under the Housing Project covered the Hernani Town Ville Sites 1, 2 and 3 in Barangay Nagaja.
Nograles praised the NHA leadership and local government officials for their dedication in ensuring the project’s timely completion and turn over despite the various logistical and scheduling challenges brought by the ongoing Covid-19 pandemic.
“We give special thanks to NHA General Manager Marcelino Escalada Jr. and Regional Manager Engr. Dodong Antiniero, together with Hernani Mayor Amado Candido, Vice Mayor Edgar Boco, Sangguniang Bayan members, municipal officials and employees who all put the interest of their constituents front and center.”
The Malacañang official stressed that all the houses have needed basic provisions such as water and electricity, adding the sites would also provide livelihood opportunities to the beneficiaries.
Nograles praised the NHA leadership and local government officials for their dedication in ensuring the project’s timely completion and turn over despite the various logistical and scheduling challenges brought by the ongoing Covid-19 pandemic.
Nograles, who likewise chairs the administration’s Task Force Zero Hunger, noted that “through our partnership with Pilpinas Kontra Gutom which is composed of various private corporations and organizations, we will create community gardens from idle lands so that the people of Hernani can grow nutritious food for consumption and commerce.“
This effort, the Cabinet Secretary stated, was in line with his advocacy to combat hunger and poverty, especially in Yolanda-affected areas.
For his part, Mayor Candido thanked the President, Nograles and the NHA for “the precious gift of housing, which is a dream fulfilled for many of us here. We will forever be grateful to the Duterte administration for uplifting the lives of the people of Hernani.”