$120,000 worth of building materials were yesterday handed over to pine landowners of Votua Village in Bua. [Source: Supplied]

$120,000 worth of building materials were yesterday handed over to pine landowners of Votua Village in Bua.

The building materials will help families whose homes were either damaged or destroyed by TC Yasa.

This is part of Fiji Pine Group of Companies’ $1.5million assistance towards housing rehabilitation for pine landowners in Bua and Macuata.

Fiji Pine Group Chairman Tui Macuata Ratu Wiliame Katonivere says the purchase of the materials has been made possible through the 30/70 Lease Security Bonus Payment system.

The system allows for the equal distribution of 30 percent of their lease bonus while 70 percent is being kept by Fiji Pine for community building projects.

Handing over the materials to the villagers, Prime Minister Voreqe Bainimarama applauded Fiji Pine Group for such an achievement.

Within the six mataqali’s that received their building materials, 13 families had lost their homes while 95 have had their homes partially damaged.

A total of 271 pine landowners in Bua and Macuata have had their homes affected by TC Yasa.