Manila: At least 126 families in the municipality of Tayum, Abra province, will soon have safe, decent, and comfortable houses to replace the ones destroyed by a magnitude 7.0 earthquake in 2022, and other calamities.
According to Philippines News Agency, Nenilu Cacas, chief of the Public Housing and Settlement Division of the Department of Human Settlement and Urban Development (DHSUD)-Cordillera Administrative Region (CAR), stated that the 126 units stand on a 1.7-hectare property owned by the municipal government of Tayum. This area has been designated as a socialized housing zone for the residents of the municipality. The project, named Indigo Subdivision, is situated in Barangay Basbasa and consists of seven blocks of row houses with loft structures that are described as well-crafted.
The housing units are expected to be formally handed over to the residents once the 126 beneficiaries are fully identified. Currently, 121 families have been confirmed as beneficiaries.
Cacas further explained that this initiative is a direct participation housing project of the SM Development Corporation (SMDC), in compliance with Republic Act (RA) 10884. This act mandates that at least 15 percent of a developer’s subdivision project must be allocated for socialized housing. The socialized housing doesn’t have to be in the same location as the developer’s main project; developers can collaborate with local government units to provide housing for victims of calamities.
Additionally, Cacas noted that the beneficiaries are required to attend values orientation and formation activities. This is to ensure harmonious co-existence among residents and to foster the development of a peaceful community.
Nenita Brabat, one of the beneficiaries, expressed her gratitude in Ilocano, sharing that her house was completely destroyed by the earthquake. She expressed her happiness and hope for her family with the new housing, thanking everyone involved in making the project a reality.
This project exemplifies how the private sector can assist in addressing the housing needs of Filipinos, particularly those affected by natural disasters.