New housing for poor in old Lorega cemetery

The Cebu City government plans to build a tenement housing project in the old Lorega cemetery for settlers “including the qualified Mahiga Creek families” whose houses were demolished.

The city government is working for the release of a P78-million loan from the National Housing Authority to fund the project, said Collin Rosell, head of the Department for the Welfare of the Urban Poor.

The amount is the balance of a P100-million loan that NHA earlier offered to the city.

At least P22 million was spent on lots to where families evicted from Carreta were relocated.

Rosell said the city can also avail of P12 million from the regional resettlement program for urban poor housing.

Former Mahiga Creek dwellers temporarily live in Block 27 of the city’s North Reclamation Area.

Councilor Alvin Dizon, head of the City Council’s housing committee said Gawad Kalinga is funding the construction of a separate three-story condominium in the city-owned, two-hectare lot.

The 60-door project estimated to cost P13 million is expected to be complete in October.

At least 0.9 hectares of the Lorega lot has been set aside for socialized housing while the remaining 1.1 hectares is for mixed use. Chief of reporters Doris C. Bongcac