Housing council releases P18M for Western Visayas projects

THE Housing and Urban Development Coordinating Council (HUDCC) chaired by Vice President Jejomar Binay released Monday P18 million for various housing projects in Western Visayas.

In his message read by his representative Nestor Borromeo, Binay also announced that 1,500 housing units are up for construction this year for the members of the Philippine National Police in Negros Occidental, especially in Cadiz City and Bacolod City.

Binay was not able to personally come to the province because he was asked by President Benigno Aquino III to attend the burial of Saudi Crown Prince Naif bin Abdul Aziz. He left the country for Saudi Arabia on Monday.

The P18 million funding included P6 million for landowners Belma Aplasca and Rosario Ronquillo for the Community Mortgage Program (CMP) Project BOTDA Village Homeowners Association (HOA) in Iloilo that covers 200 families-beneficiaries, and P4.7 million to Felix Flores for CMP project BOTDA Village 2 HOA, also in Iloilo, with families-beneficiaries.

HUDCC also released P7 million to Vicente Gimena for the CMP Project Simon Peter Village Village HOA Inc. in Roxas City, Capiz with 186 families-beneficiaries; Origination Fee worth P208,938 to Roxas City Urban Poor Federation Inc.; and Origination Fee worth P136,755.88 to Negros Urban Areas Development Foundation Inc.

In his message, Binay also noted that, all over Western Visayas, Negros Occidental has the most number of local government units that have complied with the Comprehensive Land Use Plan.

He said several land owners could also avail of the Community Mortgage Program because the government's resources under his office are ready.

Binay also encouraged local government units to be HUDCC's partner in its housing projects, especially in terms of land acquisition and land development, because his office is ready to provide funds for the housing project.

Governor Alfredo Marañon Jr., for his part, assured HUDCC that the Provincial Government has been actively assisting the LGUs in their housing projects. (TDE)