City government to build new housing for fire victims

By Joseph B.A. Marzan

Iloilo City Mayor Jerry Treñas on Monday said new housing units will be built for the victims of a fire that hit a portion of Molo district in January 2023.

In his regular press conference, Treñas said 8 new low-rise buildings will be constructed in partnership with the Department of Human Settlements and Urban Development (DHSUD).

The buildings will be constructed on the same 1.3-hectare land between Barangays West Habog-habog and San Juan where almost 300 houses were razed to the ground on Jan 28.

The city has yet to decide on the ownership scheme which could either be a long-term lease, a long-term loan, or full ownership.

“There is one [scheme] being looked at where it will only be leased [to qualified families] to avoid [the units] from being sold, because [that] happens always. But either way, we will provide decent housing units for them,” Treñas said.

He added that an unnamed contractor has expressed interest in building the units, but he advised the firm to talk to Pag-IBIG Fund, which will provide the funds.

Temporary shelters will be provided to the survivors in the meantime. They have been allowed to return to their original living places and other inhabitable areas with help from the Iloilo City Urban Poor Affairs Office (ICUPAO).

Treñas announced last week of his plan to buy the lots in the fire scene, but he has yet to receive a formal offer to sell from the landowners.

Funding for the purchase of the land will come from a ₱200-million loan from the Development Bank of the Philippines.

Other housing projects under this loan include those in Barangays Tacas in Jaro district and East Baluarte also in Molo. The mayor said last week that the latter project could be an alternative should the fire-stricken area is unavailable for purchase.

“There hasn’t been any offer from them, but they are willing to sell, and we are willing to buy. It’s not going to be difficult,” he said.

Treñas said the survivors have been receiving grants from the city’s Aid in Crisis Situations (AICS) funds, as well as the ₱25,000 cash assistance per family pooled by the city government, Iloilo City Lone District Rep. Julienne Baronda, and Senators Christopher Go and Imelda Josefa Marcos.

He added that the DHSUD’s attached agency, the National Housing Authority, is also set to help the families.

The City Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Office’s report on January 30 indicated that the fire affected 284 houses – 263 were destroyed and 21 were partially-damaged. The blaze also displaced 1,123 individuals from 299 families.