Cabinet Secretary Karlo Nograles recently led the virtual turnover of 619 permanent housing units to family-beneficiaries in Batad, Iloilo as part of the housing commitment of Task Force Yolanda, which the official heads.

Carried out in coordination with the National Housing Authority (NHA) and local government unit (LGU) officials, the turnover of housing units was held for the Hamod People's Village site in Barangay Hamod under the auspices of the Inter-Agency Task Force for the Unified Implementation and Monitoring of Rehabilitation and Recovery Projects and Programs in Yolanda-affected Areas.

Nograles, a former three-term Davao City congressman, thanked partner agencies and the LGU for their indispensable support and coordination in the project.

Completed housing units in Western Visayas can be found in the following localities: Ajuy, Iloilo, with 4,215 housing units; Carles, Iloilo (13,665); Culasi, Antique (1,974); Altavas, Aklan (393); Panit-an, Capiz (572); Estancia, Iloilo (3,562); Ivisan, Capiz (672); Concepcion, Iloilo (2,803); Jamindan, Capiz (535); Dumangas, Iloilo (1,993); Pilar, Capiz (1,354); Pontevedra, Capiz (1,168); Panay, Capiz (1,543); Barotac Viejo, Iloilo (822); Roxas City, Capiz (1,533); Anilao, Iloilo (364); Banate, Iloilo (1,631); Bugasong, Antique (2,603); Kalibo, Aklan (400); Escalante City, Negros Occidental (1,279); Pandan, Antique (2,000) and Batad, Iloilo (619).

Nograles expressed appreciation to the selfless efforts of Mayor Elvira Alarcon, Vice Mayor Raymund Ernesto Balida and other municipal officers.

He lilkewise praised NHA officials and staff who ensured the projects were completed on time despite the challenges of the ongoing coronavirus disease (COVID-19) pandemic.

The Cabinet Secretary, who also heads Task Force Zero Hunger, pointed out that the Duterte administration has been on "full blast" with its housing programs as well as initiatives aimed at addressing pressing problems related to poverty and hunger.

"We must ensure that we attain food security and address the nutrition needs of families, especially our children. Through partnerships with the private sector, with organizations like Pilipinas Kontra Gutom, we are able to do that and implement livelihood and community garden initiatives at Yolanda Housing sites," he said.

For her part, Mayor Alarcon, thanked President Duterte, Nograles, and the NHA for "uplifting the lives of the people in Iloilo, and we would forever be grateful for this lasting gift of shelter and livelihood assistance."

Yolanda (international name: Haiyan) was a super typhoon that struck the country’s central islands in November 2013. It killed at least 6,000 people and triggered a humanitarian crisis due to the sheer destruction it caused.