On GK housing for storm victims: Dumaguete LGU losing chance

DUMAGUETE CITY, Philippines — Time may be running out for the city government to avail itself of the offer of the Gawad Kalinga Community Development Foundation to build at least 100 houses for flood victims displace by typhoon Sendong in 2011.

City Administrator William Ablong confirmed that the city stands to lose a chance for the GK offer of a housing project unless the LGU can provide the housing site, which is the required counterpart by the foundation.

GK coordinator for Western Visayas Vince Rivera also confirmed this matter, as he disclosed that San Miguel Corporation has given funds for the building of 500 housing units in Region 6 for families who lost their homes to Sendong. The allocated 100 houses for Dumaguete may be implemented instead for the victims in Mindanao, he said.

Ablong said that, after the disastrous effect of Sendong, GK was among the first groups to offer to build houses for flood victims in the city.

Initially, the site for the proposed project, which is still on the drawing board until now, was in the outskirts village of  Talay, said Ablong.

This however met some hitches due to the tedious requirements for a road-right-of-way, which the city government had negotiated with various lot owners, one of who is based overseas, he said.

The best possible option now for the city government is to purchase a 7,200-square meter lot in Brgy. Bajumpandan, adjacent to another housing village jointly undertaken by the LGU and the Catholic Church.

Ablong said the city has funds for the Bajumpandan site and hoped that Mayor Manuel Sagarbarria will consider it.

The city government is pressed for time considering that GK has given them until this week to decide on whether to avail of the housing proposal or not, Ablong added.

Until today, many families displaced by Sendong still live in shanties or with relatives as they await the housing project earlier announced by Sagarbarria to be jointly undertaken by the city government and the National Housing Authority.

The specific details, such as design and size of the housing units as well as other arrangements such as whether these are to be given for free or for an easy payment scheme over a certain number of years, will have to be determined once the agreement between GK and the city government becomes final, said Ablong. (FREEMAN)