Over a thousand applicants for slots in two resettlement projects in the capital town will undergo validation to be conducted jointly this May 2023 by the National Housing Authority (NHA) and the Virac municipal government.
This was disclosed recently following the visit of NHA District Manager Teodora G. Bandojo and her staff to give an update on the agency’s housing projects to the administration of Mayor Samuel V. Laynes.
The validation will be based on the list of qualified beneficiaries for the Our Lady’s Village Resettlement Project at San Isidro Village and the Virac Resettlement Project at Sto. Domingo that was submitted to the agency.
Prioritized as recipients are residents of the Dugui area who have agreed to transfer to the población following heavy flooding during super typhoon Rolly in 2020 as well as existing informal settlers in San Isidro Village, the public cemetery, along the provincial road in Sogod-Tibgao and at danger zones along the boulevard.
A local official told the Tribune that more than 600 housing units at Our Lady’s Village Resettlement Project have been completed, along with the NHA’s provincial field office, while open spaces have been reserved for a school, multi-purpose building and chapel.
The project has yet to be connected to existing water and power utilities.
Another issue which will be resolved would be the alleged overlapping boundary lines between the resettlement project and the Imperial Homes Subdivision as well as Our Lady’s Village.
The affected areas have been left untouched and no housing units will be constructed pending resolution of the issue.
On the other hand, consolidation of the nine-hectare lot in the SIV resettlement project is now being undertaken as the individual lots have yet to be titled in the name of the LGU.
The project beside the western end of the airport runway consists of 938 lots generated out of the total 99,230-square meter land area.
Each lot is 40 square meters each, with each row house having a floor area of 28.40 square meters.
It may be recalled that the project costing P499 million was started in June 2020 by the winning contractor, a joint venture of JC Uyecio Construction & Development and CS Garcia Construction Corporation.
However, work was suspended beginning July 2, 2020 due to major revision of plans, the Civil Aviation Authority of the Philippines’ clearance permit for the project, and the COVID-19 pandemic
Following considerable damage inflicted by Rolly in November that year, the NHA revised the design of its proposed houses in its three resettlement projects in Catanduanes to better protect the houses against the onslaught of super typhoons.
Responding to an appeal from Governor Joseph Cua to install slab roofing instead of GI roofing, NHA officials reportedly balked at the suggestion as it would not be feasible due to its higher cost.
It instead adopted parapet walls around the GI roofing’s lower edge to protect it from the strong winds.
On the other hand, there is no certainty if work on the P105-million Repair and Rehabilitation of Virac Resettlement Project at Sto. Domingo intended for calamity victims would resume soonest.
The contract was in October 2020 due to revision of the house models and the signing of an amended memorandum of agreement between NHA, the provincial government and the municipal government of Virac.
It was eventually terminated by the housing agency due to the failure of the contractor, Performance Builders and Developers Corporation, to resume work on the P114.6 million project.
The two parcels making up the 42,521-square meter land is owned by the two LGUs and will generate 364 residential lots with a lot size of 60 square meters and floor area of 20 square meters.
Targeted as beneficiaries are families affected by typhoon Nina, those residing in danger areas and those affected by government infrastructure projects who qualify for relocation and resettlement assistance under RA No. 7279.
However, sources say that the NHA is set to have the project undergo a new bidding, with Virac LGU to decide on the subdivision scheme and housing model on their part of the land.
The site development plan will be revised to allow implementation of the new scheme, the source stated, with the LGU given until 2024 to facilitate the approval process.
For this to happen and maximize the P140 million funding from NHA, the survey plan for the area will be cancelled and the MOA between the provincial and municipal governments will have to be rescinded.
In Bagamanoc, NHA and the LGU is now in the midst of selecting beneficiaries of the P51.7 million resettlement project for calamity victims.
Municipal Engineer Romulo Carloto disclosed that the 98 rowhouse units, with a floor area of 28.40 square meter, built on 40-square meter lots have already been completed by Tri-Ex Tower Company, Inc. but documents required for the issuance of the Certificates of Occupancy by the building official have yet to be submitted.
It may be recalled that work on the project was suspected in October 2020, eight months after the contractor began land development activities in the 1.3-hectare property acquired by the LGU.
The work suspension was due to the proposed Variation Order No. 1, revision of the subdivision plan in compliance with the findings of the Mines and Geosciences Bureau (MGB), the actual occupants within the site, and revision of housing design.