President Marcos led the ceremonial turnover of 3,517 housing units to families affected by Super Typhoon Yolanda at the Burauen Community College (BCC) Multi-Purpose Building in the Municipality of Burauen, Leyte, on Friday, Jan. 17.

During the event, Marcos handed over the symbolic keys to the local chief executives of the eight municipalities in Eastern Visayas and the three selected beneficiaries of the housing units.  

In his speech, President Marcos said that the beneficiaries of the Yolanda Housing Program do not have to pay anything to the government.

“Libre na po ang inyong bahay at lote (You will get your house and lot for free),” he said, earning the applause of the beneficiaries.

“Hindi na po kayo sisingilin ng NHA (National Housing Authority) dahil bigay na po ito sa inyo ng inyong pamahalaan (The NHA won’t collect amortization because this is a gift to you from the government),” he added.

Marcos, however, asked the beneficiaries to take care of the housing units.

“Ang hiling po namin sa mga benepisyaro ay mapangalagaan naman ninyo ang mga pabahay na ito (My only request is for you to take care of the houses),” he said.

Implemented under the National Housing Authority’s (NHA) Yolanda Permanent Housing Program (YPHP), the housing units are located in Cool Spring Residences, Riverside Community Residences, Mont Eagle Ville Subdivision, Coconut Grove Village, Dagami Town Ville and Pastrana Ville, all in Leyte; Marabut Ville Sites 1 and 2 in Samar; and the Culaba Housing Project in Biliran.

Of the eight housing projects, only the land for the Culaba Housing Project in Biliran is owned by the local government unit (LGU). The NHA owns the other seven.

Before the ceremonial turnover, the Chief Executive inspected the Cool Spring Residences in Burauen, which comprised 600 bungalow-type units, each with a lot area of 40 square meters and a floor area of 28.60 square meters.  

These housing units are awarded as a grant, at no cost, to qualified beneficiaries identified as the Yolanda family survivors who were severely affected by the onslaught of Super Typhoon Yolanda in November 2013 and are residing in identified hazard-prone areas.

In his message for the 11th anniversary of the Yolanda tragedy, which claimed the lives of 6,340 people, President Marcos vowed to intensify the government's efforts in addressing disasters.

According to the President, the government must guarantee the speedy delivery of relief and aid to all those who may need it and make sure that the communities brace better against typhoons, enabling them to bounce back and be more resilient than before.

Thank you, Mr. President

BURAUEN, Leyte – Recipients of a government housing project here for victims of super typhoon “Yolanda” thanked President Marcos for their new homes.

Marcos inaugurated the project under the Yolanda Permanent Housing Program on Friday, Jan. 17, with House Speaker Ferdinand Martin Romualdez, Tingog party-list Rep. Jude Acidre, Presidential Management Staff Undersecretary Mark Gimenez, Leyte Gov. Jericho Petilla, and Tacloban City Mayor Alfred Romualdez.

Teofilo Lledo, a farmer and housing beneficiary from Marabut, Samar thanked the President for his new house.

"Our house was washed out by super typhoon Yolanda in 2013 but I am grateful that finally we will have a safe home for me and my family," Lledo said.

A woman from this town, Elizabeth Cuesta, also thanked the President for her new house.

Cuesta said her family can now settle in a safe area, away from the riverbank where they used to live for years.

Marcos urged beneficiaries to take care of their homes.

“Sama-sama nating pahalagahan ang mga tahanang ito na siyang magsisilbing pundasyon ng mas matatag na pamayanan at mas maaliwas na kinabukasan (Let us value these homes for a bright future),” the President said.

He directed the Department of Human Settlements and Urban Development and National Housing Authority to explore additional housing designs that can endure climate change and other challenges.

The President said funds will be allocated for the needed repair of existing Yolanda housing projects. (With a report from Marie Tonette Marticio)