Substandard units prompt suspension of housing construction for Zambo siege victims

ZAMBOANGA CITY, Philippines - The city government ordered the suspension of the construction of houses for the internally displaced families after discovering the frail and crumbling housing units.

Mayor Ma. Isabelle Climaco-Salazar was enraged by what she discovered when she personally inspected the housing units at the sites in Mariki and loftable duplex units in Lustre.

The dismayed mayor said the materials used for the housing of the victims were substandard, prompting her to immediately order the stopping of the projects pending the review of the specifications. 

“As I was looking at the frail structures and crumbling walls, it was really unacceptable. Standards have to be met,” Salazar said.

At least 51 units have already been erected and the construction firm of BillRay, a Manila-based company, are to construct 153 units in Lustre area, part of Barangay Sta. Catalina that was devastated during the siege last year.

The National Housing Authority, implementer of all housing projects under the Zamboanga City Roadmap to Recovery and Reconstruction Plan, has issued the suspension of Lustre projects to the contractor.

Salazar said prior to her site inspection, residents in Lustre reported last Sunday that three of the loftable housing units under construction in Lustre, Sta. Catalina had collapsed.

Barangay Sta. Catalina Chair Jimmy Villaflores said they will file a resolution and demand for an investigation. 

“I don’t want to put my constituents again in danger. While we are worried that the resettlement will be delayed anew... we are worried more if my people return and stay to a more dangerous resettlement,” Villaflores said. 

Salazar inspected the loftable housing units in Lustre, Sta. Catalina including the housing on stilts in Mariki together with City Planning and Development Coordinator, engineer Rodrigo Sicat, head of the Rehabilitation Cluster; Assistant City Administrator Elmeir Apolinario, co-coordinator of Z3R projects; City Engineer Luis Vicente Despalo, and engineer Al Indanan, district manager at the NHA.

She said she found that the posts that would be used for the houses on stilts were young and shrinking. 

“The material providers called me and tried to negotiate to establish children’s playground instead of addressing the below standard posts which came from Pagudpod town,” Salazar said.

Salazar said with the discovery the constructors of the housing projects were now queuing and started to talk with her trying to negotiate. 

“I told them palibhasa you are not from here you want to put those victims' lives again in danger,” Salazar said. 

Salazar have informed President Benigno Aquino III, Public Works Secretary Rogelio Singson and National Housing Authority NHA Chairman Chito Cruz.

Salazar said Cruz warned not to pay the project contractors in full unless the projects will not be delivered according to specifications. 

Muntinlupa Rep. Rodolfo Biazon, who was here as chair of the oversight committee disaster preparedness, was flabbergasted when he punched through the crumbling wall of one of the housing units at Lustre.

The operation officer of the BillRay construction who was with Biazon could not give explanation when he was questioned by the Muntinlupa congressman.

Biazon was here to meet and assess the City Disaster and Risk Reduction Management Council on their response to man-made and natural disasters when he came across with the reports of the NHA on the substandard housing units. 

Biazon said the Congress will be ready to investigate but in the meantime they will allow the NHA to do the investigation. - Roel Pareño