THE community-driven housing program spearheaded by non-government organizations emerges as one the best practices in urban poor housing program in Iloilo City.

This consensus was arrived at during the Housing Summit '09 program held on October 29, 2009 that focused on sharing of best practices on urban poor housing initiatives implemented in the city.

Mary Bernadette Albaña, documenter of the Philippine Action for Community-Led Shelter Initiatives Inc. (PacsII) identified the Community-Led Infrastructure Finance Facility (Cliff) as an effective partner of the City Government in providing decent housing units to the urban poor and informal settlers who were mostly victims of typhoons and those living in danger zones.

The projects amounted to more than P22 million for a total of 193 housing units constructed in relocation lots purchased by the City Government to target beneficiaries that include 21 units completed in 2007 of Phase 1 in Calumpang, Molo district and Phase 2 of the ongoing construction of 172 units at the San Isidro relocation site in Jaro district.

Similarly, the first Cliff duplex unit in San Isidro was inaugurated October 29.

Albaña said that Phase 3 will be implemented in the next five years in 12 cities and three municipalities nationwide including an additional 90 units at the San Isidro relocation site as expansion program.

Another non-government organization, the Homeless People's Federation Philippines Inc. (HPFPI) headed by Sonia Cadornigara and PacsII have been selected as local partners to implement the Cliff in the city.

Cliff is an international program which supports and builds capacities of urban poor communities in upscaling community-designed strategies and solutions to slum upgrading.

It is funded by the UK Department for International Development (DFID) and the Swedish International Development cooperation Agency (Sida) channeled through the Cities Alliance and managed by Homeless International- a UK-based NGO.

Albaña reported that Phase 1 beneficiaries at Calumpang are starting to pay back the cost of their units by clearly showing their acceptance and recognition of Cliff. (Lydia C. Pendon)