CLI allots P16M to build affordable houses for 64 urban poor families

SOBERANO

ASIDE from breaking ground for the last phase of its Mivesa Garden Residences, a multi-billion garden-inspired condominium project, on Tuesday, Cebu Landmasters Inc. (CLI) has also partnered with a non-government organization and allocated P16 million to help build affordable houses for 64 urban poor families.

Jose Soberano III, CLI chairman and chief executive officer, said in an interview that they make houses affordable to families who cannot afford to have their own houses.

Soberano was referring to Pagtambayayong, a foundation for mutual aid, that is the CLI’s partner in the P16 million housing project in Villamanga, Bulacao Pardo, Cebu City.

“We are asked to help out and I see the beauty and affordable kaayo.” Soberano said.”We have to make it affordable. It might be better for them to own. It is just a matter of putting our acts together and addressing their needs,” he added.

Francisco “Bimbo” Fernandez, head of Pagtambayayong said urban poor families of Santo Thomas Group Homeowners Association are the beneficiaries of their first multi-million project with CLI.

“We are the community mobilizer. Ug wala pa ang Landmaster dili gyod ta kahimo og pabalay ug yuta (If not because of the Landmasters, we cannot build housing projects), development and house construction. Nahimong (It is a) whole package,” he said.

The project will involve developing 1,301 sq.m. lot in Villamanga where two storey houses will be built in 28 by 28 sq.m. lots.

Two families will live in one house, with the first floor belonging to one family and the second to another group due to the high cost of lots.

Fernandez said the beneficiaries will pay P250,000 for the house and lot.

He also said that they would need to apply for a loan with the Social Housing Finance Corp. so that the beneficiaries could pay the CLI.

Jocelyn Sabejon, president of the Homeowners Association and one of the beneficiaries, said they are happy to finally have their own house.

She said that the timing was also right because they had just been asked to vacate the private lot where they are staying.

She said she has already signed a Memorandum of Agreement last month, and is willing to payoff P1,890 monthly amortization for 25 years.

Soberano said the government should plan for tenement housing for urban families as what most developed countries are currently doing.

“It might be better for the government to encourage vertical living and give these residents an opportunity to own their homes,” he said.

Meanwhile, Soberano said that the sixth and seventh towers of the Mivesa Garden Residences along Salinas Drive Extension in Cebu City would cost P1.5 billion.

He said that 80 percent of the 576 units of the 10 storey buildings had already been sold.