Small developers eyeing partnerships with LGUs

CEBU, Philippines — The Organization of Socialized and Economic Housing Developers of the Philippines Inc., (OSHDP) expressed willingness to work with local government units (LGUs) in providing affordable housing units for the urban poor community.

In an interview with OSHDP president Marcelino Mendoza, he said that just like what Phinma Properties have established in the Southwestern Town in Cebu, which is a collaborative project with the Cebu City government.

He added that providing the urban poor community with decent homes in the form of rental housing would teach them to be responsible in rental obligations, at the same time solve the country’s problem of illegal settlers.

OSHDP’s proposal also supported the recent program introduced by the Pag-IBIG Fund called Countryside Housing Initiative Program (CHIP).

 Although, the OSHDP is more concerned of the urban poor community, CHIP’s platform has a similar goal and that is to provide decent housing to the masses.

In Phinma’s pioneering project in this category, the Southwestern Town  involves LGUs, including several barangays in the city.

The joint project of Phinma and the Cebu City government will give rise to a “community citizenship” that will improve the two barangays’ (Sambag Uno and Sambag Dos) well-being through “institutionalized, collective and organized action responsive to the aspects of education, economic development, health, and environment.

Mendoza said OSHDP would like to introduce this kind of project to LGUs across the country as the organization’s way of helping the problem on mass housing.