Albay Provincial Human Settlement Office

𝐁𝐚𝐠𝐨𝐧𝐠 𝐃𝐞𝐩'𝐭 𝐇𝐞𝐚𝐝 𝐧𝐠 𝐀𝐏𝐇𝐒𝐎, 𝐀𝐬𝐬𝐞𝐬𝐬𝐨𝐫, 𝐧𝐚𝐧𝐮𝐦𝐩𝐚 𝐧𝐚

(Legazpi City, May 20, 2026) Nanumpa na ang bagong talagang department head ng Albay Provincial Human Settlement Office at ng Provincial Assessor's Office nitong ika-18 ng Mayo na pinangunahan ni Albay Governor Noel E. Rosal.

Kinilala bilang bagong Provincial Assessor si Darla-Mae Z. Bulalacao at si Engr. Karen B. Olayres, J.D. bilang ganap na Provincial Human Settlement Officer.

Ayon kay Provincial Human Resource Management Office OIC Corazon D. Revale, matapos ang ginawang oath-taking, ipapasa na sa Sangguniang Panlalawigan ang concurrence ng dalawang department heads.

Ipinaabot naman ni Albay Governor Noel E. Rosal ang kaniyang pagbati sa dalawang department heads at sa lima pang na-promote na empleyado ng Pamahalaang Lokal ng Albay at umaasang ipagpapatuloy ng mga ito ang mahusay at tapat na paglilingkod sa publiko.

LGuazon, Albay PIO

IN PHOTOS: APHSO Department Head, Engr. Karen B. Olayres, J.D., participated in the mediation conducted today, May 19, 2026 at Barangay Rawis, Legazpi City.

The mediation aimed to address the longstanding issue concerning the status of Informal Settler Families (ISFs) currently residing at the Regional Government Center Site, where the construction of new buildings for the Bureau of Jail Management and Penology (BJMP) and PhilHealth is set to commence.

The following matters were discussed and addressed:

1.Clarifications regarding the permanent relocation of affected families to the Homapon Resettlement Site in Barangay Homapon, Legazpi City;
2.Financial assistance to be extended to the affected ISFs;
3.Required documents, including demand letters and timelines, from concerned agencies to be delivered at the earliest to the affected families to vacate the area within 30 days notice period; and
4. Voluntary dismantling by the affected families is highly recommended for reusable materials beneficial for their transfers.

Present during the mediation were representatives from the Civil Service Commission (CSC V), led by Regional Director and BRGCA President Atty. Daisy P. Bragais; the City Government of Legazpi through the Office of Resettlement, Housing and Community Development, headed by Acting City Government Department Head Atty. Raphaela Albor; JCI Jayson Necio, Regional Engineer; J02 Atty. Rhomenes Versoza; J03 Melchor Francisco E. Dela Cruz from BJMP; representatives from the PhilHealth Office, led by Ms. Shirley S. Victoria and Barangay Rawis Punong Barangay Joel A. Orosco.

𝐈𝐍 𝐏𝐇𝐎𝐓𝐎𝐒: The newly appointed and promoted employees of the Provincial Government of Albay take their oath on May 18, 2026, at the Dignitaries Hall, Albay Capitol, Legazpi City.

The oath-taking ceremony is administered by Albay Governor Noel E. Rosal, followed by the signing of appointments led by the Provincial Human Resource Management Office.

Among those who took their oath are Darla-Mae Z. Bulalacao as the new Provincial Assessor Department head, and Engr. Karen B. Olayres as Provincial Human Settlement Officer, together with two employees from the Provincial Accountant’s Office, one from the Provincial General Services Office, and two from the Provincial Health Office.

LGuazon, Albay PIO
📸Rico

CONGRATULATIONS on your well-deserved promotion, our Department Head of the Albay Provincial Human Settlement Office (PHSO), Engr. Karen Bigtas-Olayres, J.D.!

We are so happy and proud of your achievement and wish you continued success in this new chapter.

Congratulations once again from your PHSO Family! 💐✨

IN PHOTOS: The Provincial Human Settlement Office successfully concluded a roundtable discussion to further refine the framework, roles, and technical considerations related to the establishment of the Provincial Local Housing Board.

Engr. Karen B. Olayres, J.D., Acting Department Head of PHSO, initiated the activity as part of the ongoing efforts toward its successful institutionalization, which aims to address holistically housing concerns in the province.

Present during the meeting were Governor Noel E. Rosal, DILG Provincial Director Ben Paul M. Naz, Provincial Legal Officer Atty. Marietta B. Cledera, Atty. Maricar Ramirez, PHSO COS Ar. Joseph Espinas, ACCI and SPPD OIC Margie Ros, and ESSD OIC Ma. Lorena B. Quising.

IN PHOTOS: The Provincial Human Settlement Office (PHSO), headed by Acting Department Head Engr. Karen B. Olayres, J.D., provided immediate assistance and addressed the request of the barangay council, led by Barangay Captain Rio Riva, for the relocation of five (5) families from P-5, Barangay Minto, Guinobatan, Albay.
Engr. Olayres carefully addressed and referred the matter to the LGU of Guinobatan as part of the office’s technical assistance mandate.
This action is aligned with the recently concluded Cancellation of Awards and Substitution of Beneficiaries initiative of the National Housing Authority (NHA), in coordination with LGU Guinobatan led by Mayor Ann Gemma Onjoco, the MSWDO, the Local Inter-Agency Committee (LIAC), and members of various resettlement sites within the municipality.

As a result, available housing units have been identified for possible occupancy, subject to validation by both the NHA and the LGU.

Additionally, dispute on a right-of-way issues affecting over 100 families in the Mabugos Resettlement Site in Minto, Guinobatan has been resolved recommending joint session involving the two (2) adjacent barangays of Travesia and Minto respectively together with the private claimant for proper coordination and disposition.

Furthermore, as requested by the barangay council, PHSO official pledge to allocate a portion within the resettlement site for the construction of a small chapel.

IN PHOTOS: The Provincial Human Settlement Office (PHSO) formally turned over a total of 200 sets of housing materials and shelter repair kits to beneficiaries from the Municipality of Malinao, Albay.

One hundred (100) families whose houses were totally damaged by Typhoon Uwan received sets of construction materials such as coco lumber, plywood, GI sheets, umbrella nails, and CWN.

Another 100 families received shelter repair kits, including pliers, shovels, crosscut saws, claw hammers, crowbars, sledgehammers, and tin snips, all donated by the Department of Human Settlements and Urban Development (DHSUD) to Albay.

Engr. Karen B. Olayres, J.D., Acting Department Head of PHSO, facilitated and personally witnessed the distribution of assistance together with Malinao Mayor Sheryl Capus-Bilo, Vice Mayor Abner Cargullo, MSWD OIC Teresa Zapanta, and members of the Sangguniang Bayan of Malinao.

IN PHOTOS: The Provincial Human Settlement Office (PHSO), headed by Acting Department Head Engr. Karen B. Olayres, J.D., together with the PHSO team, participated in a formal orientation on Estate Management in preparation for the establishment of 2D residences by the Provincial Government of Albay.

The orientation was spearheaded by the National Housing Authority (NHA), represented by Acting District Manager Engr. Rex M. Anzano and Estate Management Chief Gemma R. Peralta.

The discussion focused on key topics such as estate management procedures, legal requirements, documentation, and practical guidance to support effective estate management, including sales and disposition.

IN PHOTOS: Punong Barangays of Mananao, Malobago, Viga and Poblacion, all from the Municipality of Rapu-Rapu, Albay, received assistance for their constituents (53 families) whose houses were totally damaged by Typhoon Uwan.

The assistance was facilitated by PHSO Administrative Officer V Engr. Aileen Atos and Administrative Officer IV Mergie Nocos.
Sets of construction materials such as coco lumber, plywood, GI sheets, umbrella nails, and CWN were provided to affected families.

Engr. Karen B. Olayres, J.D., Acting Department Head of PHSO, ensured the swift and prompt release of assistance after the Memorandum of Agreement (MOA) was approved by the Sangguniang Panlalawigan (SPA), authorizing Governor Rosal to enter into an agreement with DHSUD for the release of these materials.

IN PHOTOS: Coordination, site visit, and validation were conducted by the Provincial Human Settlement Office at the Pioduran Resettlement Site in Pioduran, Albay.

This activity aimed to ensure accurate data validation and the proper implementation of the project in the area.

Acting Department Head Engr. Karen B. Olayres coordinated with Barangay Kagawad and HOA President Mario Bagamasbad, as well as CSAP Secretary Salvacion Narra Nasol, for the listing of housing beneficiaries. She also discussed the documentary requirements for the support being requested for the resettlement site.