National Housing Authority (NHA) General Manager Joeben Tai led the awarding of house and lot units to 142 families who were affected by the eruption of the Taal Volcano last January 2020 in a ceremony held on June 2, 2023, at the Talisay Plains Residences in Talisay, Batangas.

Joining GM Tai were Senator Francis Tolentino, Department of Human Settlements and Urban Development (DHSUD) Region IV-A Director Atty. Jann Roby Otero, Batangas 3rd District Representative Maria Theresa Collantes, Talisay Mayor Nestor Natanuan, NHA-Region IV Office Regional Manager Roderick Ibañez, and other NHA and local government officials

According to Ibañez, the affected families have been residing in different evacuation centers since the Taal volcano erupted three years ago. Of the 142 awardees, 82 families came from the Tumaway evacuation center; 17 from Sta. Maria and 43 from Motorpool. The Regional Office relocated these families on April 24, 2023, and shall continue transferring other families until September 2023.

GM Tai said, “More than three years have passed since these families became homeless due to a natural calamity. They have been living in the evacuation centers, and it is about time we moved them to a safe and resilient place, to a new house they can call their own.”

The GM assured other affected families that the NHA, with the support of the local government of Talisay, Batangas, is doubling its efforts to complete the construction of remaining housing units for immediate distribution to its intended beneficiaries.

To the 142 families awardees, GM Tai reminded them to take care of their homes and assured them of the quality of the housing units they received.

“Sa ating pong mga benepisyaryo sa araw na ito, ang akin lang pong paalala sa inyo ay pagyamanin po ninyo ang inyong mga bagong tahanan. Ito po’y inyong alagaan at ingatan dahil sa haba po ng inyong paghihintay ay may masisilungan na po kayong ligtas at hindi na mangangamba pa sa mga darating na panahon,” said GM Tai.

Meanwhile, the NHA Talisay Plains Residences shall generate 448 housing units. Each unit comprises a 40-sqm lot area with community facilities such as a school, health center, tricycle terminal, market, and livelihood center.

Under GM Tai’s Build Better and More (BBM) Housing Program, the NHA shall continue to coordinate with local government units to fast-track the provision of housing needs and uplift the living conditions of their respective constituents.