New probe into ‘overpriced’ bunkhouses soon

By Jhoanna Ballaran/Manila

The House of Representatives will launch its own investigation into the alleged overpriced and substandard bunkhouses built by the department of public works and highways (DPWH) for survivors of super typhoon Yolanda.

Anakpawis representative Fernando Hicap, who will file a resolution to initiate the inquiry, yesterday said: “It seems that these bunkhouses were designed for corruption and source of kickback by some officials.

“There is an urgent need to conduct an inquiry on the construction of bunkhouses and temporary shelter for Yolanda victims. Two months after Yolanda struck, the  government has not presented its temporary and permanent housing plan for victims who lost their homes,” Hicap said.

He noted that a comprehensive housing and shelter programme must be a major component of the government’s rehabilitation and recovery efforts for the Yolanda victims.

Hicap said that at a meeting of the House Committee on Housing and Urban Development last November, the department of interior and local government, National Housing Authority (NHA), and DPWH failed to present any firm plans on how to build shelters for the homeless survivors.

“We need to get to the bottom of this. If the anomaly is true, then it is a great disservice and betrayal to the victims of Yolanda,” Hicap said. “The corruption surrounding the construction of bunkhouses doubly victimises typhoon victims and their families who lost their livelihood and loved ones in the flood.”

The bunkhouses are said to be overpriced by 30%-35%. The quality of the structures is also under close scrutiny.

Renowned architect and urban planner Felino Palafox Jr., who writes a column for The Manila Times, said it did not take an expert to see that the temporary shelters were poorly built.

The Criminal Investigation and Detection Group (CIDG) has started a separate inquiry.

While the government’s bunkhouse project is mired in controversy, private and business sectors are rushing to build disaster-resilient houses for Yolanda survivors. Vice President Jejomar Binay yesterday said about 600 housing units will be built in Tacloban City and Palo, Leyte province by the GMA Kapuso Foundation (GFKI) with the help of NHA.

Binay, who is also the housing czar, said the housing units, which GMA Kapuso will fund and build, will adhere to the “Build Back Better” design parameters set by NHA.

The parameters include gender sensitivity, emergency design concepts, and stronger structural elements to better withstand adverse weather and geological conditions. Four hundred of the units will be constructed on a 3.5-hectare property in Barangay Kawayan owned by the Tacloban City government, while 200 will be built on a 2.05-hectare land in Barangay San Jose owned by the local government of Palo.– Manila Times