TACLOBAN CITY — The National Housing Authority (NHA) and the provincial government of Northern Samar are reviewing possible design adjustments for the Kauswagan Village Housing Project in Barangay Cablangan, Mondragon, amid rising construction costs affecting implementation plans.
The matter was discussed during a meeting between Northern Samar Governor Harris Ongchuan and NHA Regional Office VIII officials led by Regional Manager Engr. Clemente Dayot, together with provincial government representatives and partner agencies.
Talks centered on how to sustain the project’s scope while addressing the increasing cost of building materials, which has prompted a reassessment of the original housing design.
The project was initially planned to include 34 single-detached housing units. However, officials are now considering shifting to a combination of duplex and quadruplex housing units to optimize land use and maximize available funding.
Provincial officials said the proposed redesign would allow the government to accommodate more beneficiaries while ensuring the project remains financially and structurally feasible.
The Kauswagan Village Housing Project is envisioned as a core shelter and agricultural livelihood community for former members of the New People’s Army (NPA) who have returned to the fold of the law, supporting their reintegration into mainstream society.
The site is located on a seven-hectare property donated by the Philippine Fiber Industry Development Authority (PhilFIDA) to the provincial government.
Also present during the meeting were representatives from the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) Northern Samar, the Provincial Social Welfare and Development Office (PSWDO), the Provincial Legal Office, the Provincial Engineering Office, and the Provincial General Services Office.
Officials said further technical discussions will be conducted to finalize the revised housing design and implementation schedule.
(ROEL T. AMAZONA)
