Habitat to give 1.5K housing projects for Marawi IDPs

CAGAYAN DE ORO CITY -- The United Nations Habitat is set to give 1,500 housing projects for internally displaced persons (IDPs) in Marawi City, almost two years after the siege that left the city in ruins.

UN Habitat Country Programme Manager Christopher Rollo said the groundbreaking ceremony for the PHP500-million housing project will be on February 28.

Rollo said the IDPs will be identified based on data provided by the local government unit whose houses were totally damaged by the war.

He said the housing project is funded by the government of Japan, and includes livelihood and infrastructure components, such as access roads and drainage system.

Just this month, UN Habitat officials, along with the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) and local officials, have completed the identification of the 1,500 recipient families.

Rollo said a steering committee is now conducting orientation and organizing of the homeowners association, whose members approved the house designs themselves. (PNA)