Mandaue housing beneficiaries undergo workshop, bringing them closer to a decent home

Beneficiaries of the first building of the low-rise housing project of the Mandaue City government undergo a workshop on Wednesday, October 25, on the guidelines of the housing program. | Mary Rose Sagarino

MANDAUE CITY, Philippines — Fire victims, living in shanties at the Cebu International Convention Center (CICC) compound, are moving a step closer to living in a decent home as they undergo a workshop for the Mandaue City government’s low-rise housing program called the Tipolo Residences.

In July this year, some 195 individuals were identified as beneficiaries of housing units in the low-rise apartment buildings 1 and 2 which will be turned over to them in the first quarter of 2024.

READ: Housing units for CICC occupants almost complete

Tipolo Residences Building 1 beneficiaries

Those, who were given spots in the five-story building 1, are undergoing a workshop which will be completed today, Thursday for these beneficiaries.

Called empowerment capacitation and workshop of the governance policies and guidelines for the housing program, this will bring them closer to owning a home to stay.

Benefit of everyone

“Kay dako man gyud og changes sa kung unsa ang ila’ng naandan into our vertical housing, naa gyuy kausaban and it is not for the benefit of one person, it is the benefit of everyone,” said Lawyer Johnbee Biton, head of the city’s Housing Urban and Development Office or the City Planning Development Office (CPDO), about the workshop.

(Because there will be big changes on what they were used to into our vertical housing, there will be changes, and it is not for the benefit of one person, it is for the benefit of everyone.)

READ: Homes promised to Mandaue fire victims nearly becoming a reality

Mandaue housing beneficiaries are fire victims

The workshop which was conducted at the Mandaue City Cultural and Sports Complex, tackles the rights, proposal, policies and responsibilities of the beneficiaries of the housing program. 

The workshop will last for four days. However, on the third and fourth day, it will be the beneficiaries of the second building of the low-rise housing program of the city government, who will undergo the workshop.

Preparation in moving out to their units

The beneficiaries, participating in the workshop, are victims of the fire in Barangays Tipolo, Guizo, and Mantuyong last 2019 and 2016 respectively and are currently residing inside the CICC compound.

The workshop is part of the preparation in moving out to their units of the housing program.

READ: Looc fire victims among beneficiaries of housing project in Tipolo

Stay of beneficiaries to housing units explained

Biton explained that the stay of the beneficiaries to the units is usufructuary, which means that they would temporarily use them legally for many years. They would also be paying a monthly fee of only around P1,500 for the maintenance of the building and other common areas.

The construction of the first two buildings is expected to be completed late this year or early next year. The date of occupancy is scheduled for the first quarter of next year.

ALSO READ: Gov’t raises price ceilings for low-cost housing projects

Five buildings

The city’s housing program called Tipolo Residences is composed of five buildings. 

The first building is funded by the city government, the second building was donated by the Cebu Landmasters Incorporated in compliance with the Socialized Balance Housing Act.

The other three buildings were enrolled by the city for the housing program of the national government. The Department of Human Settlements And Urban Development (DHSUD) will fund its construction.