Senate orders gov’t housing contractors to explain alleged irregularities

Senate Housing Committee Chairman JV Ejercito on Wednesday said contractors of government housing projects for victims of natural and man-made calamities must explain reported irregularities plaguing the projects.

“We will subpoena the contractors to attend the next hearing on May 30 to find out who among them sub-contracted the project or projects that they got from the National Housing Authority (NHA),” committee chair Senator JV Ejercito said.

The committee on Monday conducted its first hearing to investigate housing programs of the government for victims of typhoons Sendong, Pablo, and Yolanda, and the displaced residents after the Zamboanga siege.

Ejercito said the 353 Yolanda projects, 28 for Pablo, 5 for Sendong, and 22 for the Zamboanga siege amount to P65.45 billion.

The senator added that the housing projects were plagued with problems such as unsuitability of the location, unavailability of basic services, and the lack of livelihood opportunities.

Out of all the projects, only 49.60 percent were completed. Of all the completed projects, only 45.64 were occupied.

“Papanagutin natin ang sinumang nagkutyabahang contractor- developer at mga opisyal ng pamahalaan na naging pabaya sa kanilang katungkulan,” Ejercito said. /vvp