Work on unfinished condo in Mandaue can now go on

CEBU, Philippines - Work on the medium-rise condominium project in sitio Paradise in barangay Looc, Mandaue City can now resume following the approval by the National Housing Authority of the city's project proposal and feasibility study.

The project was discontinued during Mayor Jonas Cortes's first term in office and can only continue after the NHA releases the remaining P85 million of the P100 million budget from the agency's poverty alleviation fund provided the city complies with the requirements.

However, the feasibility study had found out that the 210 beneficiaries of the housing project could not afford to pay its monthly amortization considering that most of them are informally employed as the 2008 census would show.

For fear that the money could go down the drain, considering that payment of their monthly amortization would be irregular, Cortes toyed with the idea of utilizing the building for other purposes.

Cortes first thought of converting it into a school building but since his decision will contradict what is stipulated in the memorandum of agreement for the housing project, he now wants the project to push through with city government employees as the beneficiaries this time, confident that each of them can afford the P5,000 to P6,000 monthly amortization for every unit.

"Flooded na kaayo atong proyekto sa urban poor unya nataligam-an nuon nato atong mga empleyado diin uban nila wa pay kaugalingon pinuy-anan," Cortes said. — THE FREEMAN