NHA orders Regional Officials not to answer media inquiries on Multi-million controversial housing projects

By JONG CADION

PAGADIAN CITY, Zamboanga del Sur (June 4, MPF NEWS) -- The National Housing Authority (NHA) Regional Officials refused to answer all queries and request for interview from the media relative to the Authority’s programs and operations, according to NHA Office Order No. 524.

The Office Order No. 524 dated May 14, 2014 signed by NHA General Manager Atty. Chito M. Cruz stated pursuant to the Memorandum dated May 5, 2014 from the Executive Secretary Paquito N. Ochoa, Jr., Office of the President of the Philippines following the designation of three Official Spokespersons namely Assistant General Manager Froilan R. Kampilan, Division Manager A designated officer in charge Corporate Planning Office Arch. Marissa B. Maniquis and Consultant for Legal Services and Other Special Concerns Atty. Sinforoso R. Pagunsan.

The three designated spokesperson were directed to answer for consistency in the Authority’s policy statement and official pronouncements. The Office order said.

The said NHA Office Order copy was shown to all journalists who visited their regional and district offices located in Mayor Warlito Pulmones Avenue in Pagadian City to make any follow-up on the controversial issue of P360-million worth of housing project intended for the members of the Armed Forces of the Philippines-Philippine National Police (AFP-PNP).

The said multi-million project was temporarily suspended and was take-over recently by NHA regarding the reported complaints filed by the sub-contractors of alleged malpractices and non-payments against the developer before the office of Vice President Jejomar Binay, the housing czar.

A copy of the complaint was also furnished to the NHA General Manager Cruz and NHA Department Manager Rosemarie Sioting since the affected housing projects is funded by the agency. 

The Laurasia Realty Corporation is the developer of the P360-million NHA housing projects for the soldiers and police in Barangay Bogo, this city was ordered to settle their obligation to their sub-contractor.

Recently the project was reportedly suspended and lately the project allegedly take-over by the NHA.

Vicenzo Cagampang, spokesman of the 14 sub-contractors said Monday that some of them were not yet paid by developer.

The sub-contractors were hired by the project manager and administrator of the company because they were made to understand that they are running out of time to finish the 1,500 housing units in barely two months,” Cagampang said.

Cagampang added that some construction suppliers and workers were not also getting paid also appealed to housing czar Vice President Binay to take action on the problem since the NHA Officials in the locality refused to comments and give shade lights on the issues.

Office of the Building Official head Engineer Marlon L Cirunay also said the project permit was issued to the NHA and not to Laurasia Developer.

Engr. Cirunay also said that some of their housing units were recommended for revise by the building inspection team.

“Base in the designed submitted by Structural Engineer Carlito Talaboc the project is a low cost housing with an area of 6x4 meters or 24 square meters that will cost 125,000 per unit using 8mm of steel bars and as far as the Office of Building Official is concerned the minimum required steel bars is 10 to 12mm,” Engr. Cirunay explained.

Their office will not issue a certificate of occupancy if found unsafe during the turn-over of project, The Office of the Building Official said.  

    

At present, allegedly new contraction workers from Zamboanga City were hired to finish the projects but refused to answer from the media inquiries.

Police and military applicants of the said housing projects were observed gradually doing withdrawals of their application papers due to the controversy, Military and Police Officials said. 

Earlier the City council also mediate the problem on the non-payment issue but

did not intervened on the complaint of alleged malpractices filed by the sub-contractors against the developer since the matter has been brought to the attention of Vice-President Binay and to the NHA.