City housing project breaks ground in Lorega

CEBU, Philippines — Two medium-rise building projects which will serve as housing units for the underprivileged residents of Cebu City broke ground in Barangay Lorega yesterday. Mayor Edgardo Labella led the groundbreaking ceremony.

In his speech, Labella said the two buildings will be the template of the more housing projects his administration will implement in consonance with his administration’s thrusts --- “provide home for the homeless.”

“This is going to be the first. Dili mo pili bisa’g unsay color, basta qualified, atong hatagan sa kahigayonan,” he told the people who attended the ceremony.

The mayor said there will be more tenement housing projects that will be constructed to ensure there will be no homeless in the city. He said the city government will get funding from the city’s share of the development projects like condominium or housing projects in the city.

Under the Urban Development and Housing Act (UDHA) of 1992, the city government is entitled to 20 percent share of all horizontal housing developments within its jurisdiction and 5 percent for vertical projects like condominiums.

The mayor said he will ask his allies in the City Council to pass an ordinance that would help in the execution of this policy.

“Ipa-deposit nila sa City Treasurer’s Office una matagaan og development permit para sigurado nga ma-complied na,” he said.

The mayor said he will meet all developers in the city to ensure that the housing component of the UDHA Law will be implemented.

Division for the Welfare of the Urban Poor head Simeon Romarate said the city’s Local Housing Board will draft the guidelines on how to avail of the housing program. Romarate said those living in the danger zone, underprivileged, homeless, and those in the urban poor sector will be prioritized.

At least 166 families from the urban sector will be accommodated in the two buildings. Each building will have five stories wherein the ground floor will accommodate commercial activities for the families.

The executive department included P268 million under the approved P2.5 billion Supplemental Budget-2 for the construction of the two buildings. But, the city has yet to schedule a public bidding.

Labella said he scheduled the groundbreaking yesterday as it was the 21 years since he survived a sea mishap involving the passenger/container ship M/V Princess of the Orient that sank in the seas off Cavite and Batangas.

“September 18, maoy pagkalunod sa barko nga akong gisakyan. Gitagaan ko og ikaduhang kinabuhi maong I always look back with overflowing gratitude to the Lord and the only way to give back that gratitude is to serve to the best of my ability,” he added.

Lorega Barangay Captain Fritz Gerald Herrera thanked the city government for choosing his barangay for the template housing projects.

Herrera said the area where the buildings will be constructed was hit by fire five years ago.

“Grabe ka meaningful kay 18 ang schedule kay 66 months ago, mao ning lugara ang naigo sa sunog niadtong March 18, 2014. From the ashes, gipabarog ni mayor pagbalik ang Lorega. This time, bag-o na ang hitsura,” he added. — FPL (FREEMAN)