GK to manage Lorega condoville

THE Cebu City Government will not be collecting rentals from occupants of the urban poor condominium in the old Lorega Cemetery.

To ensure that it is properly managed, Mayor Michael Rama is letting the Gawad Kalinga (GK) Foundation manage and operate it.

Rama met with GK Foundation and Collin Rosell, head of Department for the Welfare of the Urban Poor (DWUP) to discuss the management of the condoville.

“The issue of the occupants’ tenure will depend on how management of the condominium will be done. If there will be abuses, that will be the time the city government will come in,” he said.

Rosell emphasized that the city still owns the property although GK built the condominium.

Lorega barangay captain Fritzgerald Herrera said he supports the decision of the city as long as it is for the good of the people.

“It’s quite impossible based on the history of socialized housing programs. But we welcome it if it’s true. Who would not want to live there for free?” said Herrera.

Rama said a manageent council composed of a City Hall representative appointed by the mayor and representatives of GK and the homeowners association will oversee the condominium.

“We want this urban poor project to be a continuing thing. Let us first have the first building succeed. If they manage it well,then we will replicate the project,” said Rama.

Rama said the city government is ready to fund the construction of a second condominium if the project will be proven beneficial to the occupants.

Former congressman Raul del Mar appropriated P10 million from his Priority Assistance Development Fund (PDAF) to build the P12 million Condoville I.

The remaining P2 million came from donations from a non-government organization headed by Fr. Max Abalos SVD.

Del Mar said in an earlier interview that he and his daughter, Rep. Rachel del Mar, agreed to postpone the outlay of funding for a second unit until after the May 2013 election and when a new Cebu City mayor is elected.

He said they are having difficulty in dealing with Rama.

Mayor Rama said he welcomes their desire to help but said he doesn’t want the urban poor housing project used as a tool for their political plans./with Correspondent Tweeny Malinao