TACLOBAN CITY – Affordable housing projects are up for implementation in two cities and four towns in Eastern Visayas, targeting to provide houses to 4,120 low-income earners in the region.

The Department of Human Settlements and Urban Development (DHSUD) said the projects are in Ormoc City, MacArthur, Alangalang, and Mahaplag in Leyte province; Catbalogan City in Samar; and Guiuan in Eastern Samar.

Local governments are tasked with identifying beneficiaries who can afford to pay the monthly amortization in the six sites covered by the Pambansang Pabahay Para sa Pilipino (4PH) program.

The project is funded by a private housing developer supervised by DHSUD.
“All these projects have approved designs, and we even have a memorandum of understanding with local water districts to ensure that basic needs of occupants will be provided,” DHSUD Eastern Visayas Director Michael Victor Tezon said during the Kapihan sa Bagong Pilipinas press briefing here Tuesday, Sept. 24.

To avail of a housing unit, a beneficiary must be a first-time home buyer and a member of Home Development Mutual Fund (Pag-IBIG) for at least two years, have a stable monthly income, without outstanding Pag-IBIG short-term loan or account foreclosed or canceled, and not be more than 70 years old upon loan maturity.

Tezon said each unit costs PHP1.31 million, with the government subsidizing the loan interest of Pag-IBIG.

“Instead of paying P8,000 in monthly amortization, they will only pay P3,000 monthly to own the unit. This is cheaper than renting a house. Those earning P15,000 monthly can own a house under this program,” Tezon said.

The Marcos administration’s 4PH program prioritizes high density/vertical development and utilizes both government and private lands.

DHSUD oversees and monitors the implementation of 4PH. It also provides parameters or specifications and extends support and technical assistance to local government units, developers, and other program partners, including facilitating the issuance of development permits and licenses to sell.
(SARWELL Q/MENIANO/PNA)

TACLOBAN CITY-Department of Agrarian Reform (DAR) Region VIII is nearing the completion of its field validation efforts for Project SPLIT, currently ranking first nationwide in field validation status.

The region has validated 174,580 hectares out of a global scope of 206,436 hectares, marking a significant milestone in the ongoing land reform initiative.

Among the provinces in the region, Southern Leyte has achieved an impressive 101.92 percent field validation rate, having exceeded its target.

Northern Samar follows closely with 99.91 percent of its field validations completed. Both provinces are at the forefront of ensuring that Agrarian Reform Beneficiaries (ARBs) are accurately documented and provided with individual titles.

Biliran is also making significant progress, with 95.89 percent of its field validation completed, closely followed by Eastern Samar at 93.51 percent. Meanwhile, Leyte and Western Samar are catching up, with validation accomplishments of 83.13 percent and 79.14 percent, respectively.

Overall, Region VIII has reached 86.48 percent of its field validation target, making it a frontrunner in Project SPLIT’s national implementation.

As part of the project’s success, Region VIII has already distributed 10,067 e-titles to 10,481 ARBs, ensuring that these beneficiaries now hold individual land titles, a crucial step in securing their land ownership and advancing agrarian reform in the region.

With the region’s field validation nearing completion, DAR Region VIII remains committed to finalizing the remaining tasks, ensuring all ARBs receive their rightful land titles, and contributing to the success of Project SPLIT across the Philippines.
(MARVIN ORQUIOLA/PR)

ORMOC CITY– A one-year-old girl sustained minor burns after a fire engulfed their home in Barangay Talisayan, Albuera, Leyte, on Sunday afternoon, September 15.

According to the police, the fire started around 1:00 pm while the child’s mother, identified as Jessa Cabintoy, was washing clothes nearby.

The child had been left in the care of her great-aunt, who was outside eating lunch when a neighbor alerted them that the house was on fire.

Upon hearing the alarm, the house occupants rushed inside to find the infant crying in the bedroom, having already suffered minor burns on her face and foot. Fortunately, they were able to rescue the child before the fire spread further.

The fire was brought under control by 1:30 pm and was fully extinguished 30 minutes later. The estimated damage caused by the fire is around P100,000.

The child was immediately taken to Gatchalian Hospital in Ormoc City for medical treatment.
Authorities are still investigating the cause of the fire.

(ROBERT DEJON)