Housing projects receive foreign support

THREE officials from nongovernment organizations in the United Kingdom (UK) yesterday visited two urban poor housing projects in Mandaue City.

They are Jockin Arpultham, president of Slum Dwellers International; Sarah Stavrakakis, coordinator of Community-led Infrastructure Finance Facility; and Larry English, chief executive of Homeless International.

They inspected 65 completed housing units at the Lower Tipolo Housing Association Inc. (LTHAI) and 20 units under construction at the Malibu-Matimco Village Home-owners’ Association Inc. (MMVHAI).

The two-story housing unit costs P75,000 and sits on 32 square meters. It’s made of bricks manufactured by Homeless International, with the help of the Philippine Action for Community-led Shelter Initiative Inc. (Pacsi).

The projects’ ground-breaking took place last Oct. 30.

9.2 hectares

These are part of the 9.2-hectare onsite housing project implemented by Mayor Jonas Cortes’s administration, where the City donated lots to 1,638 beneficiaries, said City Public Information Officer Roger Paller.

(The site straddles the boundaries of Barangays Subangdaku and Tipolo, between Parkmall and Matimco Lumber along M.C. Briones.)

Stavrakakis said they allotted P5.2 million to the LTHAI project (255 beneficiaries) and P1.5 million to the ongoing MMVHAI project (311 beneficiaries).

They pledged to continue supporting the City’s housing program.

“We are committed to help the informal settlers’ initiative to solve their housing needs,” English said.

His organization, a trustee of government funds from the UK and Sweden, is working in the country through Pacsi and the Homeless People’s Federation of the Philippines.

Arpultham, a Ramon Magsaysay awardee, said their aim is to unite slum dwellers in 33 countries and empower them to solve their basic needs.