2 homesites for urban poor soon to rise in Tacloban
TACLOBAN CITY – Two housing relocation sites intended for urban poor residents in the city had its simultaneous groundbreaking lately in separate locations.
Located in Palanog and another in Cabalawan, all located in the northern part of the city, both relocation sites have an aggregate area of more or less 2 hectares, which according to estimates may likely accommodate 80 or more inhabitants.
But the number of units that may be constructed, however, according to City Executive Assistant Eduardo Manadong, may depend on the program of work and models that may be approved by City Architect Danny Fuentebella.
Looking into the said pioneer housing projects under the leadership of Mayor Alfred S. Romualdez, the soon to be homesite village in Cabalawan, is a tripartite partnership between the city government, Gawad Kalinga Foundation and the Family of Atty.Vicente “Toting” Solis which donated a lot for the said purpose.
The other site, which is located within a previously designated relocation area, is solely a project being initiated and financed by the city government with an initial project funding of P2 million, says Manadong, who is the project coordinator of the city government.
In the Cabalawan site, which will later be called SOLIS LEGACY GK VILLAGE, construction of houses would be done through collective efforts of the recipients thereat, with the program stakeholders, especially the Gawad Kalinga, sourcing out funds for the acquisition of required materials.
But the lot donor, however, clarified that despite occupancy of a certain recipient the lot and shelter unit ownership remains with the city government as under the Memorandum of Agreement entered into by the proponents, occupancy is only allowed as long as they want but not the ownership to such property.
And this, according to Solis, “is to avoid past experiences which resulted in the recipients’ selling the units awarded to them,” he explained.
In giving income opportunities to program beneficiaries at said area, GK Foundation Coordinator for the Visayas, Ricardo Igot likewise disclosed that aside from just looking into the provision of housing units at the site, the foundation would also be assisting the occupants on livelihood programs and values formation forums.
“Being the model site in the waray-waray region, we are looking forward for more partnership with the city government in terms of putting up more villages of this kind, Igot further said.
On the other hand, Manadong disclosed that aside from the initial 20 beneficiaries that they have identified for relocation to Palanog, more would be relocated in this area as soon as they are able to determine how many units could be made from the preliminary funding allotted by the city government. (VALENTINO B. LOPEZ)
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