Housing project needs P2.8M more

CEBU, Philippines - The first medium-rise housing project of the Cebu City Government in partnership with two non-government organizations at the former Lorega Cemetery will need an additional P2.8 million to be completed.

Lawyer Collin Rosell, chief of the city’s Division for the Welfare of the Urban Poor, said Mayor Michael Rama, albeit in principle, has agreed to shoulder the needed funds to be included in the next supplemental budget.

Rosell said Gawad Kalinga has asked for the additional P2.8 million after some adjustment on the cost of the construction.

The initial estimate of the project is only P12 million. Of this amount, P10 million came from the Priority Development Fund of former north district Representative Raul del Mar while P2 million was donated by the Action for Nurturing Children and Environment (ANCE).

The first and second floors of the building are ready for turnover on May 11 while the third level and the roof deck are still underway. The building is designed to house 60 units with 20 units per level.

Last Wednesday, the city government, GK and ANCE started assigning the units to the 25 beneficiaries that passed the screening of the urban poor office. Unit assignments were determined through drawing of lots. There will be another drawing of lots next week before the turnover on May 11.

The project is supposed to benefit the members of the United Cemetery Side Residence Association Inc., the group of the original occupants of the former Lorega Cemetery.

Rosell said that last Wednesday, after the drawing of lots, officials of Barangay Lorega sent them a letter requesting to suspend the assignment of units owing to several concerns, one of which is the issue of some beneficiaries that have been included in the program depiste not being original members of UCSRA.

Rosell said he will channel the concern to GK because the agency also does its own screening of beneficiaries. – (FREEMAN)