Mandaue City puts up 6 socialized housing sites

CEBU, Philippines — The Mandaue City government is now preparing six socialized housing sites for the city’s displaced families as well as government employees who do not have their own house.

Mayor Jonas Cortes revealed this during the city’s launching of Istorya ta Bai: A Move for Good Governance and Transparency Forum with some department heads.

Cortes said that the sites will be located in barangays Looc, Opao, Cambaro, Subangdaku, Tipolo, and Paknaan.

The ongoing construction of the five-story building in Tipolo that will house 102 families that are fire victims will be turned over to the beneficiaries in August, said Architect Marlo Ocleasa, head of the City Planning and Development Office.

He said that another building put up in partnership with the Cebu Landmasters Inc. and the Department of Housing and Urban Development is under construction. This building will house 90 families that were also fire victims in the same barangay. It will also be turned over in August.

Assistant City Legal Officer Johnbee Biton said that over 500 families that were fire victims in Tipolo few years ago and those who will not be accommodated at building 1 and 2 are temporarily sheltered at the back of Cebu International Convention Center. They will be transferred to building three, four and five once the construction is done.

Biton said that the beneficiaries of the first building will be the homeowners who will be in charge of maintaining the building.

Cortes explained that homeowners are not allowed to sell or rent their units otherwise they will be blacklisted as future socialized housing beneficiaries.

The mayor said that socialized housing site in barangay Subangdaku will be intended for some government employees in the city who do not own any house.

Cortes said that some of these socialized housing sites are now ready for construction while the lands in other sites are still being prepared.

The mayor said that it is best to construct socialized housing in the city proper as it is more economical on the part of the beneficiaries.

“Kay kung adto na nimo sila i-relocate sa bukid, mo plete pa na og mahal. Pananglitan mo plete pa na og tag P60 unya ini’g balik P60 na sad. Bug-at na kaayo na sa usa ka pamilya kay mapalit na nila og bugas ug sud-an. Unya og duol ra ilang balay sa ilang trabahu-an, pwede ra na sila maglakaw. Maka lessen gyud sa traffic,” the mayor explained. — (FREEMAN)