Mandaue creek dwellers acquire 41 new houses

Forty-one housing units were turned over by the Philippine Association for Community led Shelter Initiatives Inc. (PACSII) on Saturday as their Christmas present to the beneficiaries.

Mandaue City Mayor Jonas Cortes led the ribbon cutting, together with Vice Mayor Glenn Bercede, Councilor Emarie Dizon-Ouano, Pakna-an barangay captain Malaquias Soco, engineer Noel Zeta of PACSII and Tony Pet Juanico of the Urban Development and Housing Office.

Arlene Dublin, one of the beneficiaries who lives within the danger zone of the Mahiga Creek, expressed gratitude for the low cost housing offered by PACSII, through the initiative of the Mandaue City government, that will be paid for a maximumof 25 years.

“Our more than ten years of living in the danger zone of Mahiga Creek will be over. There will be no more worries of floodings and we can now live in a decent house that we can call our own,” said Dublin in an interview with Cebu Daily News.

The Mahiga creek has always been in the spotlight lately because it overflows during heavy rains posing danger to residents.

The 6.5 hectare relocation site in barangay Pakna-an had also once been controversial as the site is allegedly a low lying area and therefore prone to flood. Besides, some beneficiaries were also hesitant to relocate in the area because it was a timberland before and the Department of Environment of Natural Resources was eyeing to claim it back.

But Mayor Jonas Cortes assured the beneficiaries that the land is clean and that the city government will help them.

Each housing unit with a 28 sqm floor area has a dining, living area, comfort room and three bedrooms on the second floor.

The unit costs only P96,000, which is payable for 25 years.

The low-cost housing village has a drainage system, access road that is still under construction, deep wells and Veco lines.

Beneficiaries may also opt to purchase only the lot and just build their own house. /CORREPONDENT NORMAN V. MENDOZA