Navotas families displaced by typhoon get new homes

More than a hundred families in Navotas City whose houses were swept away by a strong typhoon three years ago have finally been given new homes in a safer part of the city.

The city government last week inaugurated 500 new housing units built in the Navotas Homes Tanza, a vast estate being developed by the city government in Barangay Tanza as a relocation site for informal settlers and families living in danger zones.

The 500 houses were built through a monetary grant of an undisclosed amount given by Habitat for Humanity Philippines Inc.

Habitat pledged to build the houses in 2011 in the wake of the destruction brought about by Typhoon “Pedring” which unleashed strong rains and winds that, in turn, produced a storm surge, destroying houses and shanties built near Manila Bay in Navotas.

Initially, a total of 109 families were awarded the title to their new houses. The city government, however, said it was evaluating other applications for relocation.

Navotas Mayor John Reynald Tiangco added that the relocation site was not merely designed to hold new houses but become as a thriving community for relocatees.

“Habitat and their sponsors have also built a day care center and a library in your community. I hope that you take advantage of the free services in these facilities,” he told them, according to a statement.

Habitat chief executive officer Charlie Ayco, meanwhile, expressed hope that the new houses would help the families start a new life.