Housing project lacks water supply 3 months after completion, COA finds

A housing project in San Jose del Monte, Bulacan remained unoccupied three months after its completion because of the lack of water supply, the Commission on Audit (COA) said after conducting an inspection in February 2018.

The project is earmarked as relocation of families from Caloocan and hazardous areas along Marilao river, according to a report on 24 Oras by Marisol Abdurahman on Thursday.

A few families that decided to move in had to arrange for water to be delivered to their homes.

For their daily water needs, they have to shell out P35 per drum of water. They spend double the amount for the days they have to do their laundry.

COA pointed out in their report that under the Republic Act 7279, or the Urban Development and Housing Act of 1992 (UDHA), socialized housing or resettlement areas shall be provided with the following basic services: potable water, power and electricity, sewerage facilities, and access to primary roads and transportation facilities.

The responsibility of providing these services falls on the shoulders of the local government unit, National Housing Authority, private developer and other agencies.

Members of the project's home owners' association (HOA) disclosed that the Water District of Bulacan "cannot supply the needed water facilities for all communities living within the areas as their water supply is only sufficient for Bulacan residents."

With the low water pressure at the site, a connection should be made with the main water service line of the San Jose Del Monte Water District.

The distance between the site the the service line is more than a kilometer and the cost of connecting to the water supply with the water district is between P12 million to P14 million.

The agency recommended that the homeowners coordinate with the local government of Bulacan to provide a water connection or construct an alternative water supply like installing a deep well or water rationing pending the connection to the Water District.

The Social Housing Finance Corporation (SHFC), which provided funds to purchase land for the housing project, said that as a general rule, they do not allow member-beneficiaries to occupy units without the basic necessities.

"However, despite the absence of water supply pending completion of the project, ALPAS 1 HOA fervently requested SHFC that they be allowed to transfer to their housing units since most of the member-beneficiaries are still living in danger zones/flooded areas." — Margaret Claire Layug/BAP, GMA News