Gomez accuses NHA, contractors of using substandard materials in housing project for quake victims

Actor turned politician, Ormoc City Mayor Richard Gomez, has accused National Housing Authority (NHA) and contractors of using substandard materials in a government housing project for earthquake victims.

Based on the report by Chino Gaston aired over 24 Oras, Gomez expressed his dismay over the NHA project when he paid a visit to the site in Barangay Gaas on Thursday.

“Bakit ganito? Unless kayo, kung sino binibigyan niyo kaya kailangan ganito kamura 'yung ginagamit niyo na mga...sinasabi ko lang,” Gomez said.

“Alam naman natin 'yung mga paraan ninyo diyan eh. Imposibleng 'di naman kayo nagbibigay dito, imposible namang 'di tumatanggap 'tong mga 'to. Huwag na tayong maglokohan,” Gomez added.

Gomez said the hollow blocks appeared to contain soil instead of being made with cement and sand.

"Pag-check ko, isang hawak mo pa lang ng ganu'n ng hollow blocks na naka-mount na dun sa wall, talagang malambot,” Gomez pointed out.

“Hindi ako engineer, pero masasabi ko sa iyo na para sa akin, substandard 'to. Kasi kung hollow blocks 'yan, kailangan talagang matigas, hindi mo basta-basta mababasag 'yan," Gomez added.

Gomez said that while the contractor assured him that the hollow blocks are of good quality, he would still have them reevaluated.

Some netizens, however, also took notice of how the hollow blocks were used to build the houses. The houses looked as if they are not safe for future dwellers.

Based on architectural and engineering websites, there are ways to arrange concrete hollow blocks or CHBs when building a house.

One type is the running bond or the alternate stacking of CHBs is sturdy and with the capacity to withstand heavy loads.

The stack bond or when CHBs are just placed one on top of the other is not sturdy unless these are accompanied by reinforcement or steel bars.

The stack bond method is usually used for decorative purposes.

Further inspection of the houses will be conducted.

“Kung kailangan nating gibain 'yung mga substandard na [bahagi ng bahay na] nilagay, gigibain talaga natin,” Gomez stressed.

The NHA Region 8 office, however, insisted that the housing project is not tainted with corruption, and that the walls are not load bearing or that these would not need a sturdy post.

The stacking of the hollow blocks is also not an issue, as far as the NHA is concerned, because it is cheaper and has no difference from the running bond method.

The beneficiaries of the housing project remain in temporary shelters and waiting to be told of their relocation. — Llanesca T. Panti/BAP, GMA News