THE Mandaue City Government has allocated around P150 million for the construction of condo-type units for 530 families who lost their homes in several fires in the city.
Marlo Ocleasa, head of the Mandaue City Planning and Development Office (MCPDO), said that based on their initial design, they plan to build five buildings in Sitio Maharlika in Barangay Tipolo.
The construction site was where a fire destroyed around 500 houses in 2019.
Ocleasa said they decided to implement vertical housing projects due to the city’s limited number of available properties.
He said that the City will only fund one of five buildings to rise in the area next year.
The other four buildings will be sponsored by private developers through the City’s Balanced Housing Development Program.
The Balanced Housing Development Program is a provision in Republic Act 10884, which states that developers of proposed subdivisions and condominium projects are required to develop an area for socialized housing equivalent to at least 15 percent of the total subdivision area or cost and at least five percent of condominium area or project cost.
Ocleasa said they have partnered with the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) for the site preparation and slope protection of the area while they are finalizing the design concept for the proposed housing project.
The City also identified 530 families who lost their homes to fires that occurred in Barangays Tipolo, Mantuyong and Guizo.
In 2016, fire broke out in both Mantuyong and Guizo destroying 500 houses.
Those who lost their homes remain sheltered at the grounds of the Cebu International Convention Center (CICC).
Once the project will be done, Ocleasa said that if maximized, it can accommodate around 700 households.
The Housing and Urban Development Office (Hudo) is now organizing the list of beneficiaries considering that they will be transferred by phase, said Ocleasa. (KFD)