Eighty families from the landslide site that hit Barangay Masara here early this year will receive their own housing units next month, an official said Monday.

In an interview, Vice Governor Jayvee Tyron Uy said 80 housing units will be built on a 1.6-hectare land in Barangay Panibasan.

The displaced families are victims of the Feb. 6 landslide in Zone 1, Barangay Masara, where 98 died. At least eight are still missing.

Uy said that on ground zero alone, the landslide directly impacted at least 127 families.

The second phase of the project will benefit the remaining 47 families, he added.

The project dubbed “Balayanihan” is a convergence effort with national government agencies, private sector and House Speaker Martin Romualdez, who committed PHP3.5 million.

“Balay” (house) and “bayanihan” (cooperation) mean the housing units, most of which are modular, will be built by several volunteers, hence the immediate completion and turnover by July, according to officials.

Uy said around PHP10 million will be initially spent on the housing project, including land development.

“There will be amendments to that because the staff of Speaker Martin Romualdez said there is a need to revise the proposed housing. This will entail additional cost but will be more comfortable for the recipients,” Uy added.

Merlita Serra, one of the victims, said they are excited to receive a permanent house to live in as they are staying in a tent for months now.

“I am so happy that we will finally have our own home,” Serra, 66, said in the vernacular.

Serra recounted the horrific tragedy where she lost her grandson and her neighbors.

“I can still remember the screams of the people asking for help,” she said. (PNA)