More than a decade after Super Typhoon Yolanda struck the Visayas in 2013, thousands of survivors remain without secure homes. In response to the disaster, the Yolanda Permanent Housing Program (YPHP) was launched in 2014 with a P26.7 billion budget, managed by the National Housing Authority (NHA). While some units have been completed, many remain uninhabitable or unclaimed, leaving families to endure harsh living conditions.
Sagay: Homes Built but Not Ready
In Sagay, Negros Occidental, nine government housing projects were constructed, including St. Vincent Village in Barangay Vito, which features 1,000 units on seven hectares. Yet many units lack doors, windows, and proper access due to overgrown grass.
Jessie, a mother of three, has been living in her unit illegally for three years after her home was destroyed by the storm surge. “Everything was destroyed… we had to keep moving from one place to another,” she said.
Construction delays meant it took seven years to build the units, and another four before turnover to the local government. During this time, no beneficiaries were given access. Residents like Jessie and Mang Alfonso live without electricity or water, while some have built makeshift homes nearby after being forced out of unready units.
Kalibo: Delays Persist
In Kalibo, Aklan, homes destroyed by Yolanda left farmers like Roger homeless. Kalibo Townhomes, part of the YPHP, began in 2019 but remain unfinished. Units lack electricity, water, proper flooring, and ceilings. With a P164 million budget, the project has faced repeated delays.
Kalibo Mayor Juris Sucro clarified that the NHA supervises the project and is responsible for delays. “We are coordinating with the NHA to fast-track this long-overdue project. The contractor committed to finish by February 27, 2026,” he said.
Residents hope for both housing and livelihood support, reflecting the ongoing struggle to turn disaster relief promises into secure, functional homes.
