MPDO photo
An initial 200 families have been awarded slots in the sprawling resettlement project of the National Housing Authority (NHA) and the Virac local government unit in barangay San Isidro Village.
In a recent orientation and awarding ceremony held at the Provincial Integrated Terminal and Business Complex (PITBC), NHA officials briefed the beneficiaries on their obligations and the status of the project, only about 50 representatives of the recipient families showed up.
The others will be similarly informed of what transpired during the meeting and receive a piece of paper indicating the lot number and block number of their housing units, a source at the municipal government said.
The initial recipients are from Dugui Too (40), San Isidro Village (31), Dugui San Isidro (27), Sogod Tibgao (16), Gogon Centro (11), San Roque (11), Palnab del Norte (9), Francia (6), Pajo San Isidro (4), Simamla (3), Dugui San Vicente (3), Calatagan Tibang (2), Cavinitan (2), Concepcion (2), Moonwalk (2), Palnab del Sur (2), Salvacion (2), and one each from Bigaa, Capilihan, Buyo, F. Tacorda Village, Gogon Sirangan, Lanao, Pajo Baguio, Palta Small, San Juan, San Pablo, San Pedro, San Vicente, Sta. Cruz, Sta. Elena and Valencia.
It was clarified that only the lot and house locations were awarded, with the agreements yet to be signed.
The recipients will only pay for the lot over a period of 10 years, with the amount still to be determined by NHA based on the LGU’s acquisition cost of the property.
The 200 beneficiaries underwent joint validation by NHA and Virac LGU last year based on the list of over a thousand qualified applicants for the Our Lady’s Village Resettlement Project.
Another 300 applicants will be included in the next validation process, the source stated.
News about the awarding ceremony have led to an influx of new applicants for slots in the resettlement project.
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.
Built on a nearly 10-hectare lot acquired by the LGU several years ago, the project beside the western end of the airport runway was supposed to generate 938 lots but overlapping boundary lines between the resettlement project and the Imperial Homes Subdivision as well as Our Lady’s Village reduced the number to 912 lots.
A total of 812 units of row houses have been built, with a lot area of 40 square meters each and 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 super typhoon 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.