1ST PRO-POOR QC HOUSING TO BENEFIT 500 FAMILIES

An estimated 500 families, especially those living in danger areas, will soon be awarded decent and comfortable housing units in Quezon City.

Quezon City Mayor Herbert M. Bautista signed a memorandum of agreement with Pag-Ibig Fund Chairman Darlene Marie B. Berberabe and Habitat for Humanity managing director Ricardo N. Jacinto for the city’s massive and socialized housing and resettlement program.

The signing of agreement coincided with the first meeting of the newly created QC Housing Board led by the Mayor as chairman, Vice Mayor Joy Belmonte as vice chairman, Majority Floor Leader Jesus Suntay and Minority Floor Leader Eufemio Lagumbay as members, Urban Poor Affairs Office (UPAO) as secretariat, and urban poor organizations such as Samahan ng Nagkakaisang Magkapitbahay ng Manresa, Alyansa ng MAralita sa Nova (Almanova), Doña Lualhati Cojuangco Homeowner’s Association, and Urban Poor Council of Leaders of Quezon City.

The city government’s move is in line with its plan to develop two new major housing projects this year to address the problem of urban settlements in the city. Providing pro-poor housing is a flagship program of the Bautista’s administration which was announced during the Mayor’s first day of office last year.

To date, the QC government has acquired a 1.58 hectare site in Barangay Payatas for the project that will house 300 to 500 families from danger areas such as sidewalks, roadways, waterways, under transmission lines, and on water pipelines.

At the same time, the city government will invest P23 million funds for the construction of roads, drainages, streetlights and other infrastructure works in the so-called QC eco-village.

The Home Mutual Fund or Pag-Ibig is set to provide an easy financing scheme for the beneficiaries over a 30-year period with an average P2,000 monthly amortization. The Habitat for Humanity, on the other hand, is committed to assist in housing construction, as well as in sourcing additional funding for the dwelling units.

The affordable housing units are designed for  26 square meters to 40 square meters of  row houses. Beneficiaries will include the city’s homeless public school teachers and informal settler families.

QC government believes that the partnership with Pag-Ibig and Habitat for Humanity will foster sustainability of the administration’s housing project, by ensuring the return on investment that can finance the next round of low-cost houses.

At present, the city government is also continuously working with the National Housing Authority (NHA) to avail of its ready- to- occupy dwelling units in Southville 8, Barangay San Isidro in Rodriguez, Rizal and in San Jose Del Monte in Bulacan. -30- Maureen Quinones, PAISO