IN LUIGI’S REPORT: HOUSING FOR THE POOR, P3B IN CASH
Mandaue City is the first local government unit in Cebu to receive a low-rise housing project from the National Government, which President Rodrigo Duterte will launch today.
This was the highlight of Mayor Luigi Quisumbing’s second State of the City Address (SOCA) yesterday, saying it will benefit the city’s urban poor.
The project, which will benefit 180 informal settlers residing in danger zones, has a total project cost of P128 million.
It will consist of three low-rise buildings on a 4,000-square-meter lot in Barangay Looc. Each building will have 60 units with a floor area of 24 square meters.
The project was initiated by the National Housing Authority (NHA).
“This is not just simply housing as it is known before. This is a housing project under the Balay Program, which not only provides housing but dignified and prepared housing for everyone,” the mayor said in his speech.
“I am also pleased to anthe nounce the proposed partnership of the City of Mandaue and the Housing and Land Use Regulatory Board (HLURB), which has committed to finally complete the Looc Housing Project,” Quisumbing said.
The housing projects came about after the mayor and the President discussed over dinner last year the problems besetting urbanized cities, particularly in the area of housing.
“So I was telling him about our unique situation here in Mandaue City where land is limited. And he said he will immediately send a team to study options for socialized housing and then they did an initial work,” the mayor said.
Months later, he said he was surprised to learn from Special Assistant to the President Bong Go that the President authorized the construction of 1,000 housing units in Mandaue not only for informal settlers but also for City Government employees.
The low-rise housing project in Looc will be for illegal settlers while the NHA and the City will undertake another housing project for City Hall workers in Barangay Labogon.
Quisumbing also announced in his speech the 18-percent increase in tax collection.
“Our collection has reached P1.4 billion from January to June this year and the City now has cash deposits close to P3 billion,” he added.
In his speech, he thanked the police for the decrease in index crimes and the drop in crime volume by 31.9 percent. He also credited the Traffic Enforcement Agency of Mandaue for its strict implementation of traffic laws and implementing traffic plans in areas where there are ongoing road works.
Meanwhile, Quisumbing also revealed yesterday that he, too, has received threats to his life following the City’s successful campaign against illegal drugs.
“We have (received threats). There have been several threats, some through my phone, some have called, some via text or through intelligence work of the police. We have detected, for example, the presence of several guns-for-hire that they are operating in Mandaue,” he told reporters after his speech.
It was the first time that the mayor disclosed the threats against him.
The mayor said his family is worried about his safety and even advised him to acquire a bullet-proofed vehicle, which he said is not necessary.
He said, though, that the police have placed drug and gunfor-hire personalities under surveillance.
“Yes, I often fear for my safety but I will hold my mayorship cheap if I will stop supporting the campaign against drugs. Again and always, City above self,” he added.