MY BALAI. Igloo-shaped housing units designed to withstand strong winds and adapt to climate change. Photo by Ning Cordero
MEXICO, Pampanga – The national government is undertaking a disaster-resilient housing project sustainable for communities residing at the country’s eastern seaboard and other disaster-prone areas.
The new modality shelter dubbed as My Balai is an igloo-shaped structure with two bedrooms, one toilet and bath in a 45 sqm lot area which costs P250,000.
Department of Human Settlements and Urban Development (DHSUD) Secretary Eduardo del Rosario together with regional director Felix Brazil and Homeowners Partylist first nominee and former assistant secretary Leira Buan introduced and inspected the archetype housing unit located at Amber Trail Water Park Resort in Barangay San Pablo here on Saturday, January 22.
According to del Rosario, the new housing modality will help families and communities have a safer home as the dome-shaped structure is designed to withstand strong winds and adapt to climate change by allowing energy conservation and better insulation.
“This kind of typhoon-resilient housing is what we need. The cost is low which makes it reasonable. This will help those kababayans who live in the eastern coastline,” said del Rosario.
The housing secretary added that the initial beneficiaries will be the residents of Batanes province as they plan to construct at least 100 to 200 units.
“We are talking to the governor of Batanes, we will invite him to see if it is acceptable to him and to his constituents. We will provide assistance. Ang social acceptance ng family sa design ay hindi mahirap ibenta sa kanila dahil ganito din ang itchura ng bahay nila doon. And we are thinking doon sa eastern coastline, especially sa may Sierra Madre, if they prefer this,” he shared.
Del Rosario said that their department will assist on the site development, road networks, and the drainage system while the respective local government units will identify and provide the land.
Buan, for her part, said she plans to prioritize housing projects for Filipinos especially the vulnerable sectors. She vowed that if elected, she will regulate DHSUD policies to ensure continuity of its housing projects and maintain assistance at the grassroots level.
“Bilang former assistant secretary, our approach is to give the association its community. Yung mga 27,000 homeowners association nationwide, 8 million families, we need to upgrade houses in the resettlement areas especially in Pampanga, Tarlac, Zambales kasi lumaki ang pamilya nila so dapat lumaki rin ang bahay,” said Buan. “It’s time to harmonize the relationship between the homeowners association and the national government to the contractor or developer.”
