THE National Housing Authority (NHA) 7 is expected to finish 7,483 housing units for the survivors of Typhoon Yolanda, which hit the Philippines in 2013.

The NHA said the reason for the delay was the requirements, like the Environmental Compliance Certificate for the land where the houses were put up.

Of the 7,493, 6,295 have been completed, while 495 units are partially completed, or at 50 to 75 percent done. Some 703 units are substantially completed or 76 to 95 percent done.

Engineer Constancio Antiniero, officer-in-charge of the Cebu District office of the NHA, said although they will complete the units this year, only 33 percent—or more than 1,500—are occuppied.

These are just the first of 37 housing projects the NHA has allocated for Yolanda vicitms. The other 24 housing projects are still in the land development phase and are projected to be finished in 2020.

All the projects are free. The recipients need not shell out a counterpart payment. FROM HBL OF SUPERBALITA CEBU / ML