The members of the Sangguniang Panlalawigan of Bohol (SP), led by Vice Gov. Rene Lopez Relampagos, approved on Tuesday, Jan. 11, 2021 a resolution that grants authority to Gov. Arthur Yap to enter into a Memorandum of Agreement (MOA) with the National Housing Authority (NHA) to finally download the housing assistance for the victims of typhoon Odette.
Pursuant to NHA Memorandum Circular No. 2021 dated December 23, 2021, the NHA has authorized a Special Emergency Housing Assistance Program (SEHAP) for the victims of Typhoon Odette. This enables the NHA to provide financial assistance to identified beneficiary-families in the affected areas.
In a Letter of Commitment and Undertaking, Yap acknowledged the housing assistance from NHA in the amount of P5,000 for each qualified beneficiary-family.
According to the NHA, the MOA is one the requirements in order for them to download the P55 million housing assistance to the provincial government. In turn, the provincial government, will then download the funds to the different municipalities.
Accordingly, the basis of the number of beneficiaries for the financial assistance was the initial report submitted by the 27 municipalities. beneficiaries, reports say.
Based on the initial findings from the Rapid Disaster and Needs Analysis (RDNAA) report as of Dec. 23, 2021, the Province of Bohol has a total of 131,413 affected families whose homes got partially or totally damaged.
NHA further bares that this is only the first tranche of the housing assistance and expect another tranche of aid coming soon.
“We are hoping that we could get releases from agencies for fellow Boholano victims in order to assist in the rehabilitation and recovery from the typhoon,” Relampagos said.