CEBU (Mindanao Examiner / May 21, 2014) – Mandaue City in the central Philippine province Cebu was lauded by the World Bank and Vice President Jejomar Binay for bringing the resources of all stakeholders in coming up with a local socialized housing program.
Binay, who was in Mandaue, is also the chairman of Housing Urban Development Coordinating Council. He praised the socialized housing program which includes the city-owned 9.2 hectares in the villages of Subangdaku, Tipolo, Guizo and Mantuyong, and the relocation sites in Kobe, Canduman, including the 6.5 hectare area in Paknaan.
Representatives of the 7 cities in Metro Manila, including Davao City, were also in Mandaue for the recently concluded two-day learning experiences that highlighted with the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding between Mayor Jonas Cortes and Social Housing Finance Corporation represented by its president Maria Ana Oliveros.
The signing was witnessed by Somsook Boonyabancha, Secretary-General of Asian Coalition for Housing Rights and Consultant to the World Bank, and Binay. The accord further strengthened the partnership of both institutions in implementing the program, according to the Mandaue News Service.
It said also present during the ceremony held at Oakridge Pavillion were representatives of the local governments of Manila, Quezon, Caloocan, Muntinlupa, Marikina, Malabon, Valenzuela and Davao.
Oliveros also handed over a P44 million cheque to Dennis Lua, who is the owner of the 6.5 hectare relocation area, representing payment for one-half of the lot’s total price. Lua’s sister Amalia, received the payment in behalf of her brother. It was also witnessed by Cebu Vice Governor Agnes Magpale.
Some 1,200 families, who are beneficiaries of the housing program, have applied for loans from SHFC under the community mortgage program. In return, each family will pay the loan in monthly instalments amounting to P500 within the maximum period of 25 years.
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