Taguig to inaugurate pro-poor housing project

The Taguig City government is set to inaugurate model units of the Family Townhomes project, which aims to solve the city’s problem on informal settlers.

Taguig Mayor Freddie Tiñga said Family Townhomes is an earnest attempt by the local government to pursue a mass housing project to alleviate the plight of the poor, has gained an overwhelming support from the private sector.

"It aims to build 30,000 low-cost housing units in 10 years for the city’s poorest homeless residents," he noted.

The inauguration will be held tonight with housing czar Vice President Noli de Castro as guest of honor.

Under the program, the city government will put up affordable low-rise buildings in various locations, with each building composed of eight residential units measuring 25 square meters each.

The cost of each unit is P150,000 and the beneficiaries can pay under an easy financing scheme with an initial down payment of P5,000; the balance payable at P600 to P900 monthly for a maximum period of 30 years.

Some of the units will be subsidized through fund-raising efforts by the local government and non-government organizations supporting the project.

During a ceremonial turnover, Ayala Land Inc. will give P17 million; Megaworld, P10 million; Kilusang Diwa ng Taguig, P1 million as donations to the Lightomorrow Foundation to subsidize some of the housing units to be built. Another donor is the Pacific Plaza Towers.

Donors with a P50,000 or $1,000 contributions will personally get to know their beneficiaries, the mayor said.

"We are looking at a one-to-one relationship between the donor and the beneficiary, so they know exactly who will benefit from their generosity," Tiñga explained. "The contribution is not a dole out, but a downpayment that you are making for somebody’s future."

De Castro will join Tiñga in handing over certificates of eligibility for housing unit reservation to Gemma Sabido, a teacher; PO1 Lebo Casay, policeman; Marian Adtod, streetsweeper; and Roque Marasigan and Myrna Aquino, both PNR Site residents. They are part of the first 200 qualified beneficiaries of the housing program. The mayor said those who interested in participating in the project by way of contributions, financial or otherwise, are encouraged to coordinate with his office through tel. nos. 6283628, 6283627 or the Local Housing Office under Eddie Mariano.