In Tagum, a sample of how PPP can work

TAGUM CITY—The relocation and housing program of the city government got a boost with financial help from two of the country’s biggest real property developers.

Mayor Rey Uy said Sta. Lucia Realty and Amaia Land Corp. gave P5 million for the improvement of drainage systems and road concreting in at least three housing projects built under the city’s relocation and socialized housing projects.

Sta. Lucia sent P3.5 million while Amaia gave P1.5 million, he said.

The donations, Uy said, is part of the companies’ social responsibility program.

Under Republic Act No. 7279, which is also known as Urban Development Housing Act of 1992, developers are required to help develop an area for socialized housing, he said.

“Public-private partnership is vital in the development of socialized housing for the urban poor,” Uy said as he welcomed the help from the two companies.

He said the financial assistance from the two companies had been transferred to the city government’s trust fund.

It will be used in at least two relocations sites that host housing projects for city government workers—the Iga Uy Village and Laureta Homes, the mayor said.

Michael Ang, head of the city’s task force on resettlement and anti-squatting project, said the donations were prompted by the fact that Tagum City has more local government-initiated housing programs compared to other areas.

In 2009, the local government embarked on a housing project for city employees, becoming Southern Mindanao’s first local government to undertake such project.

Conceptualized through local legislation, the “city homes project” seeks to provide affordable housing units for local government workers.

The project eventually became the City Employees Village, which sits on a 59,849-square meter property in Barangay Magugpo.  Frinston Lim, Inquirer Mindanao