FOLLOWING the recent groundbreaking of a socialized permaculture housing project in Barangay Irisan, the Baguio City government is looking to acquire more lots for potential use in similar projects in the implementation of government socialized housing for informal settlers.
City Assessor Maria Addawe has been tapped by Mayor Benjamin Magalong and tasked to find more lots within the jurisdiction and reach of Baguio City which can be used for housing projects.
Addawe said that currently, the city is eyeing a 2.7 hectare lot along Marcos Highway owned by a private owner that the city can purchase for use.
Another area eyed by the city for use is a portion of the city-owned 139 hectare property in the Mt. Sto. Tomas Area which borders Camp 7.
Department of Human Settlements and Urban Development (DHSUD) officials have signified interest in funding the city government’s implementation of future socialized housing projects for the city’s informal settler population.
The first socialized permaculture housing broke ground near the end of February of this year in Barangay Irisan, which is expected to help 273 informal settler families.
The DHSUD will be funding the initial phases of land development for the project, while the National Housing Authority (NHA) will fund the construction of the housing units themselves.
Some P326 million worth of budget has been allocated for the project, with a separate P50 million already downloaded to the city for the put-up of buildings in the project.