Mandaue sets aside P20 million for urban poor's housing

CEBU, Philippines – Mandaue City Mayor Jonas Cortes has told urban poor settlers that this year's Annual Investment Plan has set aside P20 million for the purchase of lots as housing sites for informal settlers.

The announcement was made during the culmination rites of the Urban Poor and Solidarity Week.

The activity was launched November 30 wherein the urban poor in the city were treated to free haircut, a jobs fair, and forum.

Cortes said housing for the city's informal settlers is one of the priorities of his administration.

The city at present is in constant communication with local and foreign humanitarian institutions for the realization pro-urban poor projects such as housing.

During the ceremony, Cortes also said since the first day of his assumption of office, his stand has been firm that the 9.2 hectares which is a prime area located in the heart of the city will serve as a model for on-site housing projects for the city's 1,642 beneficiary-families.

About 80 members of the Lower Tipolo Homeowners Association Inc now own decent homes in the 9.2-hectare property while the third batch is on the way.

Also during his first term of office, the city was also able to build socialized housing projects through the help of Gawad Kalinga in sitio Sudlo, barangay Maguikay while phases 1and 2 of the Kobe housing projects in barangay Canduman were completed and phase 3 is about to start.

Through the coordination of other government agencies, the city has already identified some areas in the city which could be declared as Areas for Priority Development for socialized housing projects as mandated in the Urban Development and Housing Act and through the Community Mortgage Program wherein the Mandaue City government will serve as the originator or guarantor.

The mayor assured that many already won houses and more will have houses.

With the "initial success" and materialization of these socialized housing projects in the city, the mayor told the urban poor in that such dreams could not have materialized without the support of the Ramon Aboitiz Foundation Inc., the Philippine Action for Community-led Shelter Initiatives Inc., Vincentian Missionaries Social Development Foudation, Inc, Homeless People's Federation of the Phils., Gawad Kalinga, San Miguel Corp, National Housing Authority, Social Home Mortgage and Finance Corp, and others.

During the program, Cortes announced that the present administration is now renegotiating for the acquisition of a 6.5-hectare lot in barangay Paknaan as a relocation site for informal settlers who are living in the city's danger zone. 

Last Sunday's culminating activity started with a parade at 1pm and followed by a program at 2 p.m. (FREEMAN)