Vice President Jejomar C. Binay told residents of Cagayan de Oro City Friday that about 8,000 houses have been built in various resettlement sites for victims of typhoon Sendong, while over a thousand more are being built in the city and in Iligan.
The Vice President also assured the residents during the Housing Fair 2013 that the horrors that the victims encountered in the typhoon’s wake at the end of 2011 will not be repeated.
"Tinitiyak po namin sa inyo na hindi na mauulit ang masaklap ninyong naranasan noong Disyembre 2011. Dahil ang inyo pong paglilipatan o resettlement sites ay hindi binabaha ayon sa pag-aaral ng mga eksperto," Binay said.
Binay had earlier awarded certificates of house and lot award (CELA) to 251 beneficiaries who will be resettled in Bayanihan Village Phase 1 in Macapaya, Camaman-an, Cagayan de Oro City.
The project has a total land area of 4.7307 hectares and will generate 426 housing units with 50 square meter lot size and 21 square meter floor area.
Last year, the Vice President distributed an initial of 30 certificates of award to the beneficiaries.
The Vice President had also revealed that through the Express lane Project of the Community Mortgage Program, 13 projects benefiting more than 800 families affected by Sendong have been approved.
The Express lane Project was designed to hasten the processing of community associations’ loan applications.
Binay also awarded 60 local government units for the completion and updating of their respective Comprehensive Land Use Plans, as part of the "CLUP Zero Backlog Program."
"Mahalaga po ang CLUP dahil ang ating mga nasasakupang lupain ay may limitasyon. Kailangan nating planuhing maigi ang paggagamitan nito upang maging balanse ang pamamahagi ng mga lupain at matukoy ang angkop sa agrikultura, industriyal, komersyal, at pabahay at isaalang-alang halimbawa ang mga kabundukang dapat nating protektahan," he said.
He also lauded the towns of Baungon, Impasug-ong, and Kitaotao in Bukidnon Province, and Mahinog in Camiguin, which received the Gold Category Award for having their respective CLUPs approved by their provincial board.
"Doon sa wala pang CLUP, handa kaming tumulong sa inyo. Ang Housing and Urban Development Coordinating Council ay handa ring gabayan kayo sa pagbuo ng inyong local shelter plan upang higit pang matukoy ang inyong mga pangangailangan sa pabahay," he said.
Binay also challenged the LGUs and other organizations to ensure that the people in their communities all have homes.
"Kung kami po ay nagsagawa ng CLUP Zero Backlog Program, ang hamon ko naman po sa inyong lahat ay gawin ninyong “zero homeless” ang inyong mga nasasakupan," he said.