Arch. Donna Tabangin, City Planning and Development Coordinator, announced that the site development for the Luna Terraces Socialized Housing and Resettlement Project will start at the end of October 2021.
Site development is the implementation of any improvements that are needed to prepare a site before construction can begin.
Earlier, the Baguio City Council confirmed the memorandum of agreement between the city government and the Department of Human Settlements and Urban Development (DHSUD) for the land development component of the Luna Terraces housing project.
Through the MOA, the city government will be granted a subsidy worth P155 million. The said grant will be utilized for site preparation.
As per the certification issued by the DHSUD-Cordillera Administrative Region, the subsidy is from an escrow fund generated from the participation of developers as incentivized compliance to the Balanced Housing Development Program under Republic Act No. 7279 or the Urban Development and Housing Act of 992 as amended by RA 10884 or the Balanced Housing Development Program Amendments.
The said laws stipulate that the incentivized compliance may be utilized and allocated in favor of local government units by subsidizing the development cost as a donation which is non-recoverable. This makes socialized housing projects not only more affordable but also beneficial in the improvement of the livability and quality of housing units towards developing sustainable communities.
The Luna Terraces Socialized Housing and Resettlement Project seeks to realize the city government’s goal to provide housing for the underprivileged and the informal settlers.
The project likewise seeks to resettle residents that are exposed to high disaster risks to a safe site.
The city government, through this project, further envisions a healthy ecosystem where the beneficiaries can live, work, and thrive through the adoption of culturally and naturally acceptable practices that are aligned with enabling sustainable food production.
The project anchors its site development plan to the philosophy of permaculture in which ecologically harmonious, efficient, and productive systems are developed and integrated to create sustainable ways of living.
The City Veterinary and Agriculture Office (CVAO) shall adopt a program for the promotion of community-based organic agriculture which includes crop production through backyard gardening, horticulture, and sustainable production of organic fertilizers, among others.
The project site is located at Irisan Barangay with a total lot area of 1.8 hectares. Its land use consists of roads, sidewalks, and parking (4,145 sqm); nine residential buildings (2,225 sqm); a multipurpose hall (800 smq); and food forests, survival gardens, and open spaces (10,800 sqm).
The buildings shall be provided with connections to public utilities, electricity, water, sewer, and telecommunications services. Aimed at building a smart and permaculture community, the project requires that all existing and proposed utility distribution facilities shall be installed underground.
The design and specifications of the structures shall conform to standards set by national laws such as the National Building Code (BP 220), National Structural Code of the Philippines (NSCP) 2010 Edition, Philippine Electrical Code (RA 184), as well as other applicable local regulations and ordinances.
The program for both land development and housing construction shall lend itself to flexibility provided that the design will not be lower than the prescribed minimum standards and that it is within the approved costs.
A series of fora were conducted with the stakeholders to determine the project’s social acceptability. Based on the dialogues with the affected communities, the project is deemed highly beneficial and acceptable. The adjacent barangays (Upper Quezon Hill, Middle Quezon Hill, San Luis Village, Victoria Villa, and Pinsao Proper) have expressed their support to the socialized housing project.
The beneficiaries of the project shall be encouraged to organize a homeowners association for the purpose of promoting and protecting their mutual interest and contributing to community development. The association shall be responsible for providing and maintaining the housing site road, drainage, sewerage, water systems, lighting systems, and other similar basic housing requirements to ensure the health and safety of the residents.
The target beneficiaries of the housing project are the individuals whose shelters are within reservation areas and in disaster prone areas, underprivileged Baguio citizens, and low city income government employees who are at least able to afford the cost of the land and house construction.
The city government’s Socialized Housing Beneficiary Selection and Arbitration Committee (SHBSAC) which was created through Executive Order 35 2021 shall be responsible for the selection of the beneficiaries based on the master list submitted by the City Social Welfare and Development Office.
Engr. Bonifacio dela Peña, City Administrator, announced in 2020 that the city government is also a recipient of a P50-M grant from the National Housing Authority (NHA) for the construction of the initial two buildings. **Jordan G. Habbiling
