Relocation project in Munti OK’d

President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo witnessed yesterday the signing of a letter of agreement between the Japan Fund for Poverty Reduction through Asian Development Bank (JFPR-ADB), the Muntinlupa Development Foundation (MDF), the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD), and the city government for the project covering a P60 million relocation project for hundreds of homeless families in Muntinlupa.

The project is located on Concepcion Road, Barangay Buli, Muntinlupa.

The contract signatories were DSWD Secretary Corazon Soliman; ADB Vice President Joseph Eichenberger; MDF Executive Director Ma. Cecilia Genzola and Muntinlupa Mayor Jaime Fresnedi

Muntinlupa was chosen as pilot area for the "Off-Site and Off-City Relocation Project for Vulnerable Slum Communities" together with Payatas in Quezon City.

Chito Valerio, head of the Muntinlupa Urban Poor and Affairs Office, said the city was chosen by Japan for its openness in working with various non-government groups and lead government agencies.

He said Muntinlupa has excellent strategies and approaches in dealing with its housing concerns as well as a good relationship with the private sector.

Fresnedi said he was happy with the development because Muntinlupa is just one of the many cities which submitted housing proposals to JFPR-ADB early last year. He said the JFPR will grant $1,000,000 or P50-million while the city government will give P10-million as counterpart fund which will come from the 2002 Executive Budget.

The said P10 million fund will be used for land acquisition, site development and part of the revolving housing construction fund, Fresnedi said.