HPFPI-PACSII, PCUP, ICPDO Confer CLIFF Project with New Baldoza HOA ILOILO CITY- Tuesday, March 29,

2011, a preliminary discussion about the upcoming offsite housing project in the 1.5 hectare PCUP-donated lot located in Lanit Relocation Site, Jaro was held between Homeless Peoples Federation Philippines, Inc. (HPFPI) headed by Sonia Cadornigara, HPFPIs Regional Director for Western Visayas, Presidential Commission for the Urban Poor (PCUP) headed Chloe Osano, Regional Director, Field Operations Division for Visayas together with Peachy Marie Ochong, PCUPs Area Coordinator for Iloilo City and Iloilo City Planning and Development Office (ICPDO) represented by Elizabeth Alparaque, City Planning and Development Officer III. The aforementioned activity is one of HPFPIs preparatory steps for the implementation and expansion of Community-led Infrastructure Finance Facility (CLIFF) Housing and Resettlement Project in Iloilo City which targets the construction of forty (40) housing units this year, for and in partnership with community members of New Baldoza Homeowners Association. The New Baldoza Homeowners Association (NBHOA) is composed of households informally residing in the 3.2 hectare Montinola land property located in Brgy. Baldoza, Lapaz. Some have been occupying the area for more than twenty (20) years now but have not actually transferred residence despite the issuance of administrative and court ordered demolition in favor of the Montinolas. Last year, the PCUP was able to purchase 1.5 hectare Tarroza land property in Barangay Lanit, District of Jaro through their Emergency Land Acquisition Assistance for Victims of Eviction and Demolition (ELAVED) Program. Fortunately, PCUP identified and selected NBHOA as an ELAVED beneficiary and had actually granted the land for free to 185 households. The Montinolas have likewise offered financial assistance worth five thousand (5,000.00) pesos provided that the residents vacate the area. Despite the assistance provided by PCUP and offered by the landowner, members of NBHOA still find difficulty in transferring to the relocation site primarily because the financial assistance and the free lot are not enough for them to secure comfortable houses for themselves. This problem became the entry point of HPFPI-PACSII and TAMPEI for housing provision through CLIFF. Among the concerns raised during the discussion were as follows: y y y y Distribution Scheme of the donated lot- how to make it more favorable to CLIFF housing participants as regards the easy and non-costly implementation of the housing project Irregular sizes, shapes and positions of lot based on the current subdivision plan How to secure the non-saleability of the lot within ten years upon occupation according to the terms provided by PCUP How to ensure repayment of housing participants as regards their CLIFF loan considering the absence of agreements or legal documents which would protect the HPFPIs interest on revolving CLIFF funds and that the PCUPs administrative role is limited until the allocation and distribution of lots through a deed of donation

Aside from the abovementioned concerns, PCUP in particular brought about their concern on how to instill a sense of responsibility and ownership along with the implementation of the housing project. In response Cadornigara answered in contemplation, That is exactly what CLIFF processes strive to develop among the housing participants through community-led and managed procurement and construction activities. This may sound a bit clich to you but in CLIFF, we are not just building homes, we are building communities. The half day activity ended not with tangible agreement but with the assurance of partnership between the aforementioned stakeholders. A follow-up meeting will be scheduled to talk about drafting a Memorandum of Agreement (MOA) to formalize the partnership between HPFPI-PACSII, PCUP and ICPDO.