TACLOBAN CITY – The Leyte provincial board has passed a resolution expressing gratitude to President Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr. for turning over government-funded housing projects to families displaced by Super Typhoon ‘Yolanda’ during his visit to Burauen, Leyte, last week.
The resolution, introduced by Leyte 5th District Board Member Carlo Loreto and unanimously seconded by all members of the provincial board led by Vice Governor Leonardo “Sandy” Javier, conveys the heartfelt thanks of the people of Leyte to the president for his support.
A total of 3,517 housing units, valued at more than P 935.549 million and funded by the National Housing Authority (NHA), were distributed to beneficiaries across eight towns in Leyte, Samar, and Biliran.
The majority of these housing units are in Leyte province: Tabontabon: 745 units; Pastrana: 656 units; Burauen: 600 units; Tanauan: 412 units; Dagami: 234 units; and Julita, 150 units.
Other recipients included Marabut, Samar with 670 units; and Culaba, Biliran, 50 units.
One of the recipients, Joseph Castro from Burauen, shared how Yolanda devastated his family’s home on November 8, 2013.
For more than a year, they lived in a temporary shelter with a roof made of tarpaulin. Later, they built a house on a relative’s lot where they stayed temporarily.
Last year, Castro’s family was selected as beneficiaries of the housing program.
“Okay ngadi kay marisyu, hirani ha proper ngan madagmit pagpakabuhi kay tanan tikanhi man ha Burauen,” shared Castro, who works as a motorcab driver.
Local officials present at the turnover ceremony also expressed their appreciation to President Marcos.
“Nagpapasalamat kami kay PBBM na nabigyan ng pabahay ang Tanauan kasi na-hit talaga kami ng Yolanda. Hopefully, mayroon pang ibibigay sa amin,” said Tanauan Mayor Gina Merilo.
Tanauan was among the hardest-hit areas in Leyte, with over 5,000 families displaced in the aftermath of the super typhoon.
In Marabut, Samar, Mayor Percival Ortillo Jr. expressed gratitude for the housing units but raised concerns about the lack of water supply for the beneficiaries.
“No problem sa electricity, but ang problema namin ay tubig. Dapat kasi may kasamang tubig pag binigay na sa mga beneficiary, mahirap pag wala kang tubig. Kulang na kulang,” Mayor Ortillo said.
(ROEL T. AMAZONA)
