Antiqueño families will spend a happy Christmas as they move to new shelters this December after President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. ordered the completion of a housing project by the National Housing Authority (NHA) in the province following the onslaught Tropical Storm Paeng.
“Mayroon naipakita si Gov na NHA project na nasa gitna na hindi na tinapos. At siguro malaking… Siguro dahil doon ay talagang inutusan ko sila na ayusin nila na magamit naman at sayang naman ginastusan na ng gobyerno ‘yun at ‘yung tao nanganailangan ng bahay,” President Marcos said during the distribution of food aid and other assistance in San Jose, Antique.
“So, to know that we have 770 families who will spend this Christmas in their new home is one of the best news that I have heard in a long time.”
The President visited Antique last year to assess the damage of Paeng and extend assistance to typhoon survivors. During the visit, he authorized Antique Governor Rhodora Cadiao to finish the NHA project so people could move in.
Governor Cadiao announced during Friday’s event that more than 700 families will receive the housing units this December.
President Marcos arrived in Antique to lead the distribution of 1,000 sacks of smuggled premium rice to the beneficiaries of the Pantawid Pamilyang Pilipino Program (4Ps) in the municipality of San Jose de Buenavista.
The rice being distributed in the province is part of the 42,180 sacks of smuggled rice confiscated by Bureau of Customs (BOC) in one of its raids last month.
The administration said it remains committed to address rice hoarding and smuggling that negatively impact market prices.
Aside from extending food aid, the President also led the turnover of various government assistance to the province.
Among the agencies involved include the Department of Agriculture (DA), Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD), Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources (BFAR), Philippine Crop Insurance Corporation (PCIC), Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE), Technical Education and Skills Development Authority (TESDA), Commission on Higher Education (CHED) and the Department of Health (DOH). PND
