Housing project needs to start within 6 months

CEBU, Philippines - The P10 million budget for the proposed housing project in Barangay Lorega-San Miguel has been released to the Department of Social Welfare and Development, but the project needs to be implemented within six months otherwise the money will be reverted to the Priority Development Assistance Fund of outgoing congressman Raul del Mar.

Rosalina Allosad, Social Welfare Assistant, said they received the P10 million last April 30.

Del Mar donated the money in 2006 to DSWD for the housing project, which will include the construction of a three-story building designed initially to house 180 residential units. The site is a two-hectare lot, which used to be a cemetery located at the back of the former Sacred Heart School campus along General Maxilom Extension.

In a meeting with DSWD, Gawad Kalinga, representative of Press Secretary Paul Hubahib, and some recipients of the housing project, City Administrator Francisco Fernandez instructed GK to produce the plan within the month.

Fernandez said the general engineering plan, building plan, and the plan for site development are needed to finally start the construction. These plans are also needed in securing a building permit and to release the budget for the site development from the city government.

“The money is available for this. Two years na ta sige’g hisgot ani pero wala pa’y building plan. Somebody has to produce the plan,” Fernandez said.

The Action for Nurturing Children and Environment (ANCE), a non-government organization, also donated P2 million for the construction of more rooms. The city government will take charge in developing the site.

Last year, the City Council authorized Mayor Tomas Osmeña to implement the project.

Those already living at the project site will be prioritized once the building is completed, Fernandez said. The facility will be leased to them for a certain period, which is yet to be finalized.

The initial rent of P750 per unit, is also yet to be finalized. Proceeds will go to the city government, but a portion of which will go to GK for the maintenance of the site.

Fernandez reiterated the city will not sell the lot to the occupants.

Currently, there are 329 illegal infrastructures, mostly residential houses, in the area occupied by over 500 families.  (FREEMAN NEWS)