By Michael Vincent D. Cajulao
ZAMBOANGA CITY – The city government of Zamboanga has formally endorsed the housing plan for the displaced families here to the National Housing Authority (NHA) to have it started by the end of this month or middle of April, Engr. Rodrigo S. Sicat, city planning officer, said in a press briefing.
“The city government has approved the design of the first phase of Mariki Village consisting of 520 housing on stilts; 172 loftable duplex units for Paniran resettlement area; and another 47 loftable duplex units for Martha Home Owners Association Subdivision... It was already endorsed to NHA-Manila for approval and awarding of contracts to contractors for construction by end of March or middle of April the latest,” Engr. Sicat reported.
As approved in the Zamboanga Roadmap to Recovery and Reconstruction Plan (Z3R), the NHA, Sicat said, has targeted 7,248 families for housing assistance up to the end of 2015, 3,241 of these are housing on stilts and 2,346 housing on land. The housing on stilts alone will cost P784.7 million, Engr. Sicat pointed out.
Sicat added that aside from the housing construction, 1,661 families will also be receiving P30 thousand worth of material assistance for the construction of their houses under the Housing Materials Assistance Program (HOMA) for a total of P49.83 million. NHA is just awaiting the resolution from the City Council for the release of the fund.
“The City Legal Office now has the memorandum of agreement (MOA) between the city government and the NHA for the housing materials assistance program. The release of the P49.83 million by NHA depends on the availability of Sangguniang Panlungsod resolution,” he explained.
He said the target delivery of this assistance is from March to April.
“Beneficiaries will be given coupon to claim materials from a designated hardware or store,” Sicat concluded.