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Friday, June 03, 2005
De Castro: Housing agency to absorb Pinatubo office
By Dante M. Fabian
MAGALANG -- Vice President and Housing and Urban Development Coordinating Council (HUDCC) chairman Noli "Kabayan" de Castro announced Thursday that the Pinatubo Project Management Office (PPMO) will soon be placed under the National Housing Authority (NHA).
De Castro, who awarded about 1,500 land titles to each of the beneficiary-families in resettlement centers in Barangays San Isidro and Sta. Lucia in the town, said he has ordered the transfer of the PPMO into the NHA umbrella in order to pursue more efficient implementation of resettlement housing programs for Mt. Pinatubo victims.
He said the PPMO, which evolved from the Mt. Pinatubo Commission (MPC), would bring more effective implementation of housing programs under NHA, which will also include those who are not victims of the Mt. Pinatubo disaster.
He said the NHA will soon extend its services to members of the informal settlers not covered by the Pinatubo resettlement program.
"Your communities are beautiful. All of you must work together to make your communities peaceful, healthy and safe for your families," de Castro said, as he noted the resettlement had almost all the necessary facilities of a community.
The Vice President warned the beneficiaries against selling or leasing out their houses and lots as he said violation of these will end in cancellation of titles and awarding these to other parties.
He said in a tour of the San Isidro and Sta. Lucia resettlement centers, he noticed that these had amenities like water and electricity distribution system, wide concrete-paved roads, sports facilities and community centers.
De Castro also pledged to work for the funding of school buildings and health centers to further improve conveniences to the resettled families.
During his speech, he said the HUDCC is speeding up the titles of about 40,000 more beneficiaries with the help of the PPMO, headed by Flordelita T. Arrozal, PPMO director.
Arrozal, other PPMO officials and staff joined Magalang Mayor Pastor Z. Guiao, Mexico Mayor Teddy Tumang and Board Member Prospero Lagman in welcoming de Castro.
She said the Arroyo administration has generated at least 10,044 titles, which grant full and free ownership of the house and lot packages to legitimate victims of the 1991 calamity.
According to her, the average relocation package consists of core houses with a floor area of 26 square meters each, on 94-square meter lots.
De Castro arrived in the town with HUDCC Assistant Secretary Pam Yabut, HUDCC Secretary General Lucille Ortile, National Housing Authority (NHA) General Manager Rico Laxa, lawyers Romulo Fabul of the Housing and Land Use Regulatory Board (HLURB), and Miro Quimbo of Pag-ibig.
(June 3, 2005 issue)
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