(PAGASA 24-HOUR PUBLIC WEATHER FORECAST as of Thursday, 14 November 2024) At 4:00 AM today, the center of Typhoon “OFEL” (USAGI) was estimated based on all available data at 475 km East Northeast of Virac, Catanduanes or 595 km East of Daet, Camarines Norte (14.6 °N, 128.5 °E ) with maximum sustained winds of 120 km/h and gustiness of up to 150 km/h. It is moving Westward at 35 km/h. TROPICAL CYCLONE OUTSIDE PAR AS OF 3:00 AM TODAY TROPICAL STORM TORAJI (2423) [FORMERLY NIKA] LOCATION: 475 KM WEST OF CALAYAN, CAGAYAN (20.0°N, 117.0°E) MAXIMUM SUSTAINED WINDS: 85 KM/H NEAR THE CENTER GUSTINESS: UP TO 105 KM/H MOVEMENT: WEST NORTHWESTWARD AT 15 KM/H TROPICAL STORM MAN-YI (2424) LOCATION: 2,210 KM EAST OF EASTERN VISAYAS (13.2°N, 145.0°E) MAXIMUM SUSTAINED WINDS: 75 KM/H NEAR THE CENTER GUSTINESS: UP TO 90 KM/H MOVEMENT: WEST SOUTHWESTWARD AT 30 KM/H 𝗙𝗒π—₯π—˜π—–π—”π—¦π—§ π—ͺπ—˜π—”π—§π—›π—˜π—₯ π—–π—’π—‘π——π—œπ—§π—œπ—’π—‘: Butuan City, Agusan del Norte, Agusan del Sur, Dinagat Islands, Surigao del Norte and Surigao del Sur will experience partly cloudy to cloudy skies with isolated rainshowers or thunderstorms due to Localized Thunderstorms. Possible flash floods or landslides during severe thunderstorms. 𝗙𝗒π—₯π—˜π—–π—”π—¦π—§ π—ͺπ—œπ—‘π—— 𝗔𝗑𝗗 π—–π—’π—”π—¦π—§π—”π—Ÿ π—ͺπ—”π—§π—˜π—₯ π—–π—’π—‘π——π—œπ—§π—œπ—’π—‘: Light to moderate winds coming from Northwest to Southwest will prevail with slight to moderate seas / (0.6 to 2.5 meters).


Thursday, 3 October 2024

DHSUD highlights housing program progress in Caraga

By Remil Vincent E. Lagumbay

BUTUAN CITY (PIA) — To address the housing backlogs in the country, the Department of Human Settlements and Urban Development (DHSUD) Caraga, emphasized the on-going implementation of its flagship program on “Pambansang Pabahay para sa Pilipino” also known as the 4PH in the region on their recent appearance at the Kapihan sa Bagong Pilipinas in collaboration with the Philippine Information Agency (PIA) Caraga.

Through the Executive Order No. 34 signed by President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. in July 2023, the program was aimed to enhance affordable housing access for Filipino citizens who are challenged to benefit from government housing initiatives.

Cristie Y. Reyes, regional director of DHSUD Caraga, revealed that more than 200,000 families in Caraga region do not have their own houses to live in, many of these families are living in rented accommodations or staying with relatives, while some are hazardly located in danger zones such as waterways and landslide prone areas making their families vulnerable to disasters.

Dir. Reyes detailed that the 4PH program addresses the critical housing needs in the region by introducing affordable, decent and resilient vertical housing (condo type) units, designed to be accessible for families struggling with home ownership through a 5 percent interest subsidy provided by the government.

Since the program’s ground-breaking on August 8, 2024 in Dapa, Siargao Islands, Surigao del Norte, 1000 families had already benefited from the project.

Reyes disclosed that seven local government units (LGUs) committed their participation to the program by signing a memorandum of understanding (MOU) with DHSUD. She also added that 9 LGUs were also on schedule for MOU signing namely the municipalities of Rosario, San Francisco, Talacogon, and Trento, from the province of Agusan del Sur; municipality of Nasipit from Agusan del Norte; municipalities of Cagdianao and Dinagat, from the province of Dinagat Islands; municipality of Cantilan from Surigao del Sur; and municipality of Tubod of Surigao del Norte.

When questioned about the decision to utilize vertical housing units under the 4PH program, despite the region's numerous vacant lots, Reyes clarified that the availability of land suitable for residential use has become scarce which drove prices upward.

In addition, she shared that the vertical housing is efficient because it allows them to build more housing units within a small land area which preserves agricultural lands from being converted into residential subdivisions.

"The 4PH is not just another building, DHSUD is advocating for township. That's why the choice of project sites are crucial, it should be within town centers that are walking distance to schools, government facilities, and job establishments," she said.

DHSUD Caraga emphasized the pivotal role of the local government units in the full implementation of the said housing program that will address the housing backlog in Caraga region by year 2028. (RVEL, PIA-Caraga)