THE Cagayan de Oro City Government has partnered with real estate developers and government housing bodies to give some 960 internal settlers families (ISFs) house and lots.
A memorandum of agreement was signed Monday, March 25, to make the partnership official, and signals the start of the construction of a total of 960 housing units in Barangay Balubal, Cagayan de Oro City.
According to Social Housing Finance Corporation (SHFC) lawyer Arnolfo Cabling, the housing units are not “your ordinary housing unit” in relocation sites.
Cabling said a two-storey building will be erected for the first 24 housing units, and will stand in a 5 hectare land area.
He said the homeowners will be involved in the design of the units.
Housing and Land Regulatory Board lawyer Lloyd Lao explained that each party agreement has its own roles: the land acquisition is from the City Government, the real estate developers are in charge with the land development, and the SHFC will finance the materials of the house.
Lao said the housing units will be of the same quality in the houses in subdivision.
“This is in line with thrust with this administration, nga dili ang porke social housing daginoton, kung mupuyo ka ani na balay, parehas ug dignidad sa mga gapalit ug mahalon na balay,” he said.
The real estate developers involved in the project incude Vistaland- the Camella Homes developer, and Bria Homes.
City Housing and Urban Development Department head Armen Cuenca said this is the first time that the city ventures with a big project to address the housing backlog.
“This project is unique because were are not only addressing those who are disaster-stricken families but also those hit by government projects and have been homeless for many years,” Cuenca said.
To date, there are 51,000 recorded informal settlers in the city that needs affordable and safe housing.
Homeowners will have to pay their new house and lot but will be in a form of a housing loan.
In Balubal, the 46,000 square meters of land will be given to the 960 ISFs who are affected by government infrastructure projects, such as those living in, or near danger areas, such as riverbanks, esteros, roadways, sidewalks, bridges, garbage dumps, shorelines and waterways.
Cagayan de Oro City Mayor Oscar Moreno said the project was made possible with the partnership and working altogether.
“This is a first step for us in this complicated world of real estate development, and ensures that something is done that is a need, kailangan masagot ang housing need,” he said.
“The most difficult public service is resettlement but we are taking up the challenge for our constituents,” he added.
The construction will start anytime this year but is expected to be completed in about 2 to 3 years from now.