Naga city: Naga City Mayor Leni Robredo announced that the city's housing gap is being addressed through the Pambansang Pabahay para sa Pilipino (4PH) Plus Program, which includes significant projects such as a PHP480-million rental housing development and PHP17 million in Community Mortgage Program (CMP) assistance.
According to Philippines News Agency, during the city's 78th Charter Anniversary celebration, Robredo expressed gratitude to the national government and the Department of Human Settlements and Urban Development (DHSUD) for their support in bringing nearly PHP700 million worth of housing projects to Naga. The rental housing project, to be constructed in Barangay Lerma, will feature five four-story buildings with a total of 320 housing units. Due to the area's susceptibility to flooding, the housing project has been designed to include water impounding and drainage systems to mitigate the impact of flooding.
Robredo highlighted the importance of vertical housing in flood-prone areas to minimize disruptions and explained that the initial proposal to elevate the site through land filling was opposed by city officials. The redesigned project aims to prevent aggravating flooding issues in nearby communities by incorporating effective drainage solutions.
In addition to the rental housing initiative, Naga City received financial support amounting to more than PHP8 million for the San Pedro Urban Poor Kooperatiba Inc. and over PHP17 million for CMP beneficiaries in Barangay Mabolo. The city has also applied for five more sites under DHSUD's Direct CMP program, targeting approval by 2027. These sites include San Felipe Relocation Site, St. Vincent in Calauag, Ulaca in Abella, Sitio Creek in Concepcion Grande, and another site in Mabolo.
Robredo emphasized the advantage of the CMP being on-site, as it allows residents to remain in their current locations without disrupting their livelihoods. This aspect provides families with security and peace of mind, knowing they will not be forced to relocate in the future.
The rental housing project is seen as a crucial step in addressing the housing gap for families not yet financially prepared to purchase homes. The program offers affordable rental options with the potential for beneficiaries to transition to homeownership. The combined value of ongoing housing initiatives in Naga, including the rental housing project, CMP assistance, previously funded housing developments, and the city's transitory housing project, now totals nearly PHP700 million. The transitory housing facility, the first of its kind in Naga, is valued at nearly PHP80 million.
