MARAWI CITY, Lanao del Sur (PIA)--Allegations fired against the National Housing Authority (NHA) for undertaking projects under the Marawi rehabilitation which are already beyond its mandate have been scrapped during a virtual press conference Thursday, July 8.

“Walang katotohanan ang pinupukol na alegasyon against the National Housing Authority,” said Department of Human Settlements and Urban Development (DHSUD) Secretary and Task Force Bangon Marawi (TFBM) Chairman Eduardo Del Rosario.

(There is no truth to allegations thrown against the National Housing Authority)

Critics have recently attested that NHA has been taking roles in the city’s rehabilitation which are not in the scope of its mandate.

Del Rosario defended that there is an agreement existing between the NHA and the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) passing the responsibility of construction of the road infrastructures to the NHA and that such was approved by the President.

He emphasized that the agreement is well documented in the Master Development Plan (MDP) presented to the TFBM and also gained approval from the President. 

“It is stated in the documentation that this project will be undertaken by this particular government agency. It was approved by the President because it was contained in the whole Master Development Plan that was presented by the Task Force Bangon Marawi to the Office of the President,” said Del Rosario.

The housing czar even underscored that as per the unrevoked Executive Order No. 90 dated December 17, 1986 and issued during the late President Corazon Aquino’s presidency, also part of the NHA’s mission is going into any component that concerns the rebuilding of calamity-wrecked communities which then makes them fully authorized to cover the restoration of the entire perimeter.

“Nakalagay dito na bigyan ng authority ang [It is stated here to give authority to the] National Housing Authority to rebuild blighted communities. Ibig sabihin, kapag nirebuild mo ang blighted communities, nasira ang bahay, buildings, road networks, water or electric facilities (This means that if you rebuild blighted communities, shelters, buildings, road networks, water or electric facilities were destroyed). The NHA has the authority based on this executive order,” emphasized Del Rosario. (Claire R. Gigje/PIA-10/ICIC Lanao del Sur)