“Akong order nimo, the National Housing Authority, nga ang balay, housing units, imong ihatag og gasa sa Naga permanent housing project,” [I order the National Housing Authority to give as a gift the housing units in the Naga permanent housing project.] President Duterte announced during the groundbreaking ceremony of the Naga Permanent Housing Project in Brgys. Tinaan & Inoburan, City of Naga, Cebu, on September 6, 2019 for the survivors of Naga landslide in 2018.

At the event, President Duterte instructed the NHA thru its General Manager Marcelino P. Escalada, Jr. to grant the Naga Permanent Housing Project, free of charge, to the beneficiaries, stressing that it is the government’s job to rebuild the lives of landslide victims and their families through the provision of housing and other necessary assistance.

“This event is a fulfillment of our promise to provide an affordable and sustainable resettlement site for the victims of the landslide that happened here in September last year. That unfortunate incident, which affected five barangays, claimed 100 lives, and displaced almost 2,000 families, was a wake-up call for all of us,” the President continued.

According to NHA Region VII Manager Engr. Gavino D. Figuracion Naga Permanent Housing Project can accommodate 192 of families. “As clearly stated by the President himself, NHA will give the Naga housing units free of charge to the qualified beneficiaries. As mandated, NHA will continue to provide adequate, liveable, affordable and inclusive housing to low income families.” Engr. Figuracion emphasized. 

Furthermore, as their original settlements were declared unsafe, family-beneficiaries are to be relocated to a two-hectare portion of the Balili property in Brgys. Tinaan & Inoburan which the Provincial Government of Cebu donated to the City of Naga. 

To date, the NHA is finalizing the guidelines for the housing grant specific for the Naga, Cebu landslide beneficiaries. The President’s directive also follows the general guidelines for housing grants provided for the beneficiaries of Typhoon Sendong and those who were displaced by the Zamboanga Siege in 2013.