Looc fire victims among beneficiaries of housing project in Tipolo

MANDAUE CITY, Cebu–Victims of the massive fire in Sitio Paradise in Barangay Looc will be among the beneficiaries of the housing project located in Sitio Maharlika in Barangay Tipolo here.

Mayor Jonas Cortes announced this on Friday, November 25, 2022, after the city government and the Department of Human Settlements and Urban Development (DHSUD) headed by Undersecretary Gary de Guzman,  officially launched the national government’s “Pambansang Pabahay Para sa Pilipino: Zero ISF Program for 2028″ in the city.

The signing of the memorandum of understanding (MOU) and the groundbreaking ceremony was made in Sitio Maharlika, Barangay Tipolo, also a victim of a massive fire in 2019.

READ: Dawn fire razes hundreds of houses in two Tipolo sitios

Under the MOU, the DHSUD will build a total 14, 000 housing units in the different areas of the city while the city government will allocate a land for the project and will be the one to identify the beneficiaries. 

Mayor Cortes said that the Looc fire victims will be among the beneficiaries of the housing project.

They will be accommodated in the three other buildings funded by DHSUD.

Lawyer JohnBee Biton, head of the city’s Housing Urban and Development Office, said that about 600 families will be accommodated in the three buildings.

The massive fire in Barangay Looc burned down 250 houses and displaced over 600 families.

READ:  Gas lamp accident may have caused huge Looc fire

Lorna Buenavista, one of fire victims, said that she would be happy to be part of the housing project.

Under the housing project of the national government, beneficiaries will be paying a monthly amortization of around P3,600 for 30 years.

In Mandaue City, Cortes said that the city government will shoulder the portion of the monthly rent.

“On the part sa city government, gusto nato nga matagaan gyud ang part sa macontribute sa beneficiaries, kay naglisod pa ang uban unsa na kaha og magbayad (monthly), mao na nga part of it will be shouldered by the city, pangitaan nato,” said Cortes.

Biton said that he does not know the date of the start of the construction of the buildings funded by DHSUD.

Biton said that the construction of the two buildings of the city’s housing project that is also located in Sitio Maharlika, Barangay Tipolo is ongoing.

He said that it would take 11 to 18 months to be completed.

The city government funded the first building while the other building was donated by a private developer.

The two buildings are for the displaced victims of the 2019 fire in Sitios Basubas and Maharlika in Barangay Tipolo who are currently living inside the Cebu International Convention Center Compound.

/bmjo

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