Cebu assembly to discuss housing

CEBU, Philippines - Officials of Housing and Land Use Regulatory Board (HLURB) will meet with 131 mayors, four governors and 13 congressmen in Central Visayas to discuss how to provide housing to the homeless in the region.

The meeting will be held during the launching of a housing caravan dubbed as “Strengthening Local Government Units in Housing Delivery and Local Development Planning” from February 10 to 11 in Cebu City.

Through this assembly, the HLURB, the Housing and Urban Development Coordinating Council (HUDCC) and key shelter agencies will provide workshops to officials and homeowner associations.

HLURB is targeting about three million families to benefit from the housing program.

About P1.7 trillion must be raised in 10 years for the program. From where to source this amount is also the subject of discussion during the two-day summit.

HLURB commissioner Felix William Fontabella said they are seeking integration and cooperation from LGUs to be able to deliver their mandate.

The LGUs play an important role in housing and land use development planning, he said.

The HLURB is willing to assist LGUs in finding lending facilities and fund sources like private partners, Priority Development Assistance Funds of the Congress, among others.

The summit will be attended by Vice President Jejomar Binay, the HUDCC chairman. – Jessica Ann R. Pareja/LPM (THE FREEMAN)