Socialized housing in Barangay Lorega shelved

CEBU, Philippines - The construction of Cebu City’s three-storey, medium-rise building inside the Lorega-San Miguel cemetery has been put on hold.

Gawad Kalinga Project Director Tanny Go said they are facing some problems in the on-going construction, particularly on the site development plan.

“As of this time, no final and complete site development plan has been done partly because of the absence of any actual and accurate total land area to be provided and developed by the city into a socialized housing site,” Go said in his letter addressed to Mayor Michael Rama.

The Gawad Kalinga started its construction last May 12. According to Go, it is still 13.29 percent completed.

Based on the city’s plan, the socialized housing will be built on a 12,000-square meter lot but the Department of Welfare on the Urban Poor (DWUP) said it would only be on a 9,000-square meter area.

In the absence of a development plan, Go said the temporary power and water connections at the site could not be made available.

As of now, the Gawad Kalinga is temporarily tapping power and water from nearby residents.

Also, the entrance road going to the construction site needs widening and clearing as required by Visayan Electric Company (VECO) and the Metro Cebu Water District (MCWD).

Go observed that it is difficult for the heavy equipment to get in and out of the construction site with the danger of causing damages along the way.

Go asked Rama to facilitate the immediate clearing of an additional area. This involves the exhumation of around 40 cadavers and the clearing of concrete tombs.   The clearing operation is estimated to cost around P100,000.

Go also sees an urgent need to plan and develop the permanent bone chamber before the coming November to avoid negative reactions from families whose dead were exhumed.

Meanwhile, the Cebu City Local Housing Board (LHB) recommended a rent-to-own scheme for the beneficiaries of this project.

Beneficiaries would be allowed to pay a standard monthly fee for 25 to 30 years.

While the board has yet to peg the actual monthly payment rate, GK and the United Cemetery Site Residents Association (Ucesira) said P300 would be a fair amount to the beneficiaries.

Ucesira is the beneficiary of the program. — (FREEMAN)