By Genalyn Kabiling The government has urged the local government executives in Yolanda-hit areas to hasten the completion and turnover of resettlement units for affected families before the 2020 target. Davao City Rep. Karlo Nograles
(FEDERICO CRUZ / MANILA BULLETIN) Cabinet Secretary Karlo Nograles said Leyte mayors could reactivate the local inter-agency committees (LIAC) to facilitate a smooth implementation of the Yolanda resettlement program. Five years since the powerful typhoon hit parts of the country, Nograles noted that a substantial number of houses for Yolanda survivors remained unfinished while completed units have not yet been occupied. “We are appealing to local government units for active support and participation because only through LIACs that we can effectively implement the housing program," he said during the recent meeting at the National Economic and Development Authority (NEDA) Region 8 Office in Palo, Leyte which was attended by local executives. "If the LIACs are active, major milestones have been observed. These include submission of a complete list of beneficiaries, monitor the status of construction of housing units, facilitate the actual transfer of beneficiaries, and come up with occupancy rules and regulations,” he said. Citing National Housing Authority record, he said the government aims to build 205,128 housing units in the Yolanda corridor. As of February 2019, he said, 29,531 housing units have been built in Region 8 out of the 56,140 target. Of these completed houses, 18,183 units are occupied and 11,348 units are ready for occupancy. "The government is targeting 2020 for the completion of all housing projects, though most of the units should be finished by the end of 2019," Nograles said. He added that it was necessary “to find out the needs of resettlement sites and program under the 2020 budget.”