Informal settlers of Mahiga Creek host groundbreaking rites at relocation site

CEBU, Philippines - The organized informal settlers along Mahiga Creek in sitio Philcadan, Mandaue City hosted the other day the groundbreaking ceremony for the 6.5 hectare-relocation project in barangay Paknaan.

The St. Michael Homeowners Association, Inc. led by its president, Ma. Luisa Lacona, hosted the groundbreaking officiated by Mayor Jonas Cortes at the assigned home lots for some 100 members of the organization.

The ceremony was attended by members of eleven other beneficiary-organizations of the socialized housing project initiated by the city government.

“We are very excited, this is the realization of our dream to own a house that we can call our own,” said Lacona in the vernacular.

Lacona said many of the residents in their sitio opt to avail of the relocation saying this is a God-given opportunity which happens once in a life time.

According to Lacona, some of those who complained against the project are not really residents of the area, but urges them to join just the same.

Mayor Cortes, assisted by Vice Mayor Glenn Bercede, lowered the time capsule after a brief ceremony. Inserted into the capsule were an unlighted candle, copies of the title, subdivision plan, drawing of the model house, comb, among others.

“I will never stop helping the poor even if some people castigated me,” Mayor Cortes said in the vernacular during a program held earlier.

Cortes said the project is the people’s project.

The relocation area will accommodate 1,200 households living along danger zones along Mahiga Creek and Butuanon River.

The beneficiaries purchased the 28 square-meter lot at P2,000 per square meter under the Community Mortgage Program, a soft loan program of Social Home Mortgage Finance Corporation, with the city government acting as guarantor.

The Philippine Action for Community-led Shelter Initiative helps construct two story-houses using bricks. – (FREEMAN)