Mindanaotoday.com | Oro gov’t, NHA sign MOA for 132 duplex-type houses
By: Jigger Jerusalem
CAGAGAYAN DE ORO CITY – To provide decent dwelling for the homeless and to address the rising backlog of socialized housing in Cagayan de Oro at the same, the city government and the National Housing Authority has signed Thursday, March 9, a memorandum of agreement that would result to the construction of 132 duplex-type units in Barangay San Simon.
The project is part of the city’s housing program in San Simon and will be built on a 4.2-hectare lot.
Lawyer Samuel Rollo, head of the City Housing and Urban Development Department, said the housing subdivision, which costs P50 million, to be shared by both the city and NHA, is expected to be finished in 300 days.
“This is a big help to the city government under Mayor Rolando ‘Klarex’ Uy to provide decent homes to the homeless,” Rollo said.
For his part, Rollo said they are now in the process of investigating reports that there are dwelling units in the city’s housing subdivisions resided by occupants that are not in the CHUDD’s system.
“Based on our investigation, we have found out that there are those are living in our relocation and socialized housing sites for years but they have not complied with our requirements. It’s unfair to those who have religiously submitted all the documentary requirements but have not yet been giving a housing unit,” he added.
Rollo said part of the department’s investigation is on CHUDD employees who may be involved in wrongdoing, particularly on awarding housing units to those who have not submitted the requirements and another report that some of the staff members are asking money from applicants.
“I have created a special investigating team to look into these reports and allegations and we will soon be taking appropriate action once these are all validated and properly documented,” he said.
Based on current CHUDD data, the city government has 75 housing subdivisions with 15,951 units.
Despite this number of houses, Rollo said the city has a backlog of about 20,000 – Cagayan de Oro residents who have completed the application process but have yet to be awarded with a housing unit.
In a separate interview, the mayor said he cannot guarantee that the thousands of applicants could be given housing units in his first three-year term.
“But the 132 duplex-type housing units is a start, and we are thankful that the National Housing Authority has initiated this project that will benefit the people of Cagayan de Oro,” Uy said.
Uy added another socialized housing project, also in partnership with NHA, will be constructed in Barangay Dansolihon in the amount of P50 million, in the near future. (MT)
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