More than a decade after Typhoon Yolanda, 200 families have finally received permanent housing units from the National Housing Authority (NHA) in a ceremonial awarding held in Barangay San Nicolas on April 22.
The beneficiaries were handed certificates of award, which serve as proof of ownership of their new homes under the Coron Heights project, part of the agency’s Yolanda Permanent Housing Program (YPHP).
Assistant General Manager Alvin S. Feliciano and Region IV Manager Roderick T. Ibanez led the distribution, under the directive of NHA General Manager Joeben A. Tai.
Launched after the 2013 disaster, the program aimed to relocate hundreds of thousands of families living in high-risk coastal zones to safer, inland communities.
The government identified more than 200,000 households nationwide that required permanent housing, making it one of the largest post-disaster resettlement efforts in the country.
In Palawan, housing projects were rolled out in northern municipalities such as Coron, Busuanga, and Culion, targeting families affected by storm surges and other hazards.
The Coron Heights project was developed as part of this broader effort to provide long-term shelter solutions for displaced residents.
However, implementation of the housing program faced delays in several areas, including issues related to land acquisition, site development, and coordination between agencies.
Earlier reports noted that land ownership and titling concerns slowed the progress of some housing sites, affecting the timeline for construction and turnover.
Across the country, similar challenges have affected the delivery pace of Yolanda housing projects. Government reports have cited land availability, permitting, and site readiness as among the key constraints in completing units and relocating beneficiaries.
The units provided under the program are designed as basic starter homes, typically built in resettlement sites intended to transition families from temporary shelters to permanent communities.
The program also envisions the development of support services such as access roads, water, electricity, and livelihood opportunities, although the level of completion varies by location.
