City exempts GK from fees for housing project

CEBU, Philippines – The City Council has exempted the Gawad Kalinga Community Foundation from payment of locational clearance and building permit fees for a socialized housing project in Barangay Lorega San Miguel.

The exemption is in response to a resolution by Councilor Alvin Dizon, which called on the city government to spare the foundation from paying the fees. After all, he said, the project is intended to benefit residents of the city.

"This is a joint socialized housing project with the City of Cebu that will benefit the homeless families living in the cemetery," Dizon said.

At present, the foundation is developing the site to pave way for the construction of a three-story building, which will house 60 homes. Construction will begin before the year ends and is expected to be completed within eight months.

Of the total amount allocated for the housing project, P10 million came from the Priority Development Assistance Fund (PDAF) of former Cebu City North District representative Raul Del Mar. The rest will be shouldered by the city government and other non-government organizations, including the Gawad Kalinga Community Development Foundation Inc. and the Action for Nurturing Children and Environment (ANCE). The housing project will occupy 9,000 square meters of the 20,000 square-meter Lorega Community Cemetery. (FREEMAN)