A CEBU-BASED developer said it has been complying with an Urban Development and Housing Act (Udha) provision that requires developers to develop an area for socialized housing.
Under the law, developers of proposed residential condominiums are required to develop an area for socialized housing equivalent to at least five percent of the condominium area or project cost, at the option of the developer.
For developers of subdivisions, it’s 20 percent.
Cebu City Mayor Edgardo Labella recently urged developers to follow the Udha provision.
“Our compliance is monitored well by governing agencies like the Housing and Land Use Regulatory Board. While CLI is addressing the backlog in the upscale, middle and economic markets, this law truly allows us to be part of nation-building as we are also able to serve the socialized housing needs,” said Franco Soberano, chief operating officer of Cebu Landmasters Inc. (CFI).
“As we grow, we are also growing our capacity to serve this socialized housing need,” he said.
The mayor said that had the five percent for condominiums and 20 percent for subdivisions been religiously implemented, the City Government could have built houses for the homeless and underprivileged families.
“We have to do it now and not later;” Labella said on Friday, Sept. 13, 2019.
Ian Borromeo, construction development head of Vibo Land, agreed with the mayor and assured that they would allot a share of their project investment for socialized housing.
City Administrator Floro Casas Jr. said Ayala Land Inc. is also willing to help the City build a medium-rise building as well as comply with the Udha provision.
“They were inspired by the mayor’s pronouncement during the groundbreaking ceremony of the City’s tenement project in Barangay Lorega San Miguel on Friday (Sept. 20, 2019). Ayala Land then offered to adopt a housing project of the mayor’s, which will then be considered as its compliance of the legal requirement for socialized housing,” Casas said in Cebuano.
If Labella accepts Ayala Land’s offer, the City will look for a property where the medium-rise building will be built, he said.
Last Friday, Labella said the previous administration failed to collect its five-percent share from condominium developers and 20-percent share from subdivision developers. (JOB with CSL, PAC of Superbalita Cebu/JKV)