NHA to provide houses, cash aid for earthquake-hit families in Cebu

The National Housing Authority (NHA) will provide permanent housing and cash assistance to families displaced by the magnitude-6.9 earthquake that struck Bogo City and nearby towns in Cebu on September 30.

NHA General Manager Joeben Tai said the agency is preparing relocation plans for more than 2,000 families from Bogo City, the epicenter of the quake, and nearby San Remegio town while ensuring that new housing sites are in safe locations.

"Ang lugar titingnan natin kung saan talaga suitable… ayaw nila tumira doon kung saan malapit sa ground zero. Medyo natatakot sila dahil sa araw-araw na aftershock," Tai said in an interview with Super Radyo dzBB on Wednesday.

(We are looking for a location that is truly suitable… beneficiaries don't want to live near ground zero because they are afraid of the daily aftershocks.)

As of October 8, the number of damaged houses in Cebu climbed to 62,531 amid continued aftershocks that have slowed recovery, the National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council (NDRRMC) reported.

According to the Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology (PHIVOLCS), over 9,000 aftershocks have been recorded in the area as of Wednesday morning.

Residents in San Remigio have also expressed fear for the safety of their homes after dozens of sinkholes emerged following the quake.

Free homes with community facilities

Tai said the NHA plans to construct permanent housing units once the final number of beneficiaries is confirmed and a suitable relocation site is identified. 

Each unit will be a row house on a 40-square meter lot with a 27-square meter, two-bedroom house.

He added that the relocation sites will also include essential facilities.

"Maglalagay rin tayo ng eskwelahan, covered court at mga ibang community facilities," he said.

(We will also build a school, a covered court, and other community facilities.)

The permanent houses will be provided free of charge to all affected families. 

"For this po, since calamity victims sila wala na po silang babayaran," Tai said.

(Since they are calamity victims, they won't have to pay anything.)

Cash aid, payment relief

Aside from housing assistance, the NHA will distribute P10,000 for partially damaged houses and P30,000 for those totally damaged, starting Friday.

Tai also announced a one-month moratorium on amortization payments for existing housing beneficiaries in Cebu and Masbate. This means they will not have to pay this October, with their next payment starting in November.

A tent city has been set up to accommodate around 2,500 families, but Tai stressed that this is only a temporary solution while the NHA finalizes permanent housing plans. — VDV, GMA Integrated News