NHA to allocate P15M for dev't of San Isidro relocation site
City Mayor Jerry Treñas recently announced that the National Housing Authority (NHA) will allocate P15 million for the site development of the 16.3 hectares San Isidro, Jaro relocation site.
Treñas made the announcement during last Friday's awarding of Certificates of Eligibility for Land Allocation (Cela) and handing out of Katas ng VAT Tulong kay Lolo at Lola project at the Jaro gymnasium.
The P15 million fund is an additional assistance from the national government for the San Isidro relocation site aside from the P35 million Iloilo Disaster Response Core Shelter project.
The P35 million is intended for the construction of 500 houses costing P70,000 each unit. The fund was provided by the Housing Urban Development Coordinating Council (HUDCC). The project would be implemented by the Habitat for Humanity Philippines Foundation Inc.
Last week's groundbreaking and lowering of time capsule with Vice President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo, Social Welfare Secretary Esperanza Cabral, Justice Secretary Raul Gonzalez Sr. signaled the implementation of the Iloilo Disaster Response Core Shelter project.
The chief executive said the P35 million Iloilo Disaster Response Core Shelter project was realized through the effort of Vice President Noli de Castro, who is the same time the HUDCC chair.
On his part, the Vice President said the project is part of the intervention of President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo in addressing the need of those displaced by Typhoon Frank.
The Iloilo Disaster Response Core Shelter project will also complement the Iloilo Flood Control Project. The government will only pour out additional funds for the construction of housing units as soon as P35 million project is completed, said De Castro.
"As chairman of the Housing Urban and Development Coordinating Council (HUDCC) I was tasked by President Arroyo to respond to this problem," he said.
The immediate release of the P35 million fund was made with the support extended by Secretaries Cabral, Gonzalez and Rolando Andaya of the Department of Budget and Management (DBM), said De Castro.
Gonzalez, a close-ally President Arroyo, is also the chair of the Task Force Bangon Panay. In the 2009 proposed national budget, P85 million is allocated for the housing and land development, according to Secretary Gonzalez.
On his part, Gonzalez said the housing and land distribution ceremony is "an important occasion. Every one is dreaming of having a piece of land. The people's desire for "roofs on their head" is a considered as social justice.
"Social justice means to equalize the opportunity between the rich and poor." The housing project is a priority project of President Arroyo. It is a program that shows genuine concern to the poor. "It is something that they can leave to their children," said Gonzalez.
Providing housing projects for the poor is not "politics." It is a crowning glory for the country's leaders who genuinely serve their people, stressed Gonzalez.