Megawide sets benchmark for mass housing projects

MANILA, Philippines - Vice President Jejomar Binay, chair of the Housing and Urban Development Coordinating Council (HUDCC), recently conducted a site inspection of the national housing project in Camarin, Caloocan City together with officials of the National Housing Authority (NHA), the local city government, as well as officers of the housing project contractor, Megawide.

NHA general manager Chito Cruz, Caloocan City Mayor Oscar Malapitan and Megawide chairman and chief executive officer Michael Cosiquien apprised Binay of the anticipated completion of the government housing project ahead of the contractual date of November 2014. Megawide commenced the project in March 2013.The Camarin site comprises 10 five-story buildings, with a total project cost of more than Php 610 million. “We have already completed two buildings. By April 30, we will have completed another two buildings, and by June 30, another two more, and so on. We expect to complete the project one or two months ahead of schedule,” said Ronald Paulo, Megawide vice president for operations.The Camarin government housing is the first project of Megawide with the NHA.

Paulo added that Megawide’s building specifications are being considered by the NHA as a benchmark for future mass housing projects, with its more spacious rooms, air circulation design, and use of precast half-slab components as well as precast toilets.  

“We hope for the possibility of future partnerships between the NHA and Megawide,” added Paulo. “We can help to not just construct, but also develop other mass housing facilities.”