Aside from providing decent and affordable housing to homeless Filipino families, the National Housing Authority has allotted a total of 20 million pesos to the Municipality of Itogon as aid for the victims of Typhoon Ompong.

A category 5 typhoon, Ompong (International name: Mangkhut) ravaged parts of Northern and Central Luzon last September 15, 2018. One of the hardest parts that was hit was Itogon, Buenget, wherein a landslide, caused by the strong rains took over a hundred lives.

Initially, a 10 million peso aid was issued by GM Escalada, last September 29, 2018 to
Itogon Mayor Victorio Palangdan for the purchase of Housing Materials (HOMA). The severity of the situation however caused the NHA to hand another check, amounting to 10 million two weeks later, on October 13, 2018. The funds shall be used for the acquisition of resettlement site to the displaced families caused by the landslide.

As to how the funds could be used GM Escalada said: “The application on how to
implement the 10 million will be very unique to Itogon kasi I will not impose the restriction na within Itogon lang.” This would allow the Local Government of Itogon to purchase land outside of the municipality if they could not find a suitable site within their municipality.