THE Oponganons’ dream of having socialized housing for the poor will soon be fulfilled.

This, after the Lapu-Lapu City Government signed a joint venture agreement with Premium Megastructures Inc. (PMI) to develop up to 128 hectares of land in Brgy. Canjulao at no cost to the City.

Lapu-Lapu City Mayor Junard Chan and PMI president Francis Lloyd Chua signed the agreement at the Liberty Shrine in Brgy. Mactan.

The groundbreaking ceremony took place shortly thereafter.

The budget for the Lapu-Lapu City Socialized Housing and Urban Development Project is said to be at P3.7 billion.

Chan said 25 of the 128 hectares of land is intended for the socialized housing, while the rest of the area will be for industrial and commercial purposes.

“This is another ‘City,’ a little city because this 25-hectare area will have an adjoining 103-hectare mixed-use development that could generate more jobs for them,” said Chan.

The socialized housing is slated to be completed in the next two years and 3,000 Oponganons will benefit from it.

In May 2021, the City Council led by Vice Mayor Celsi Sitoy, passed a resolution that authorized Chan to enter into an agreement with PMI.

The resolution states that on March 26, 2003, former President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo issued Proclamation No. 346 in which she reserved a 25.24-hectare parcel of land in Brgy. Canjulao for urban development and socialized housing site purposes.

“At last, the most-awaited, long-time dream of the Oponganons is coming to fruition. They will have a decent dwelling and now they can feel how important they are,” said City Councilor Junrey Gestopa. (GCM / CCP)