Photo Update for 2 Demonstration House in Paknaan Relocation Site, Mandaue City

A back-to-back two-storey houses with two to three bedrooms, living room cum kitchen area with individual sanitary toilets and septic tanks. Between the rows of houses are 3-meter road right of ways, and the triangular-shaped total area is circumscribed by 10-meters wide streets.

The construction of these 2 units were completely done
within twenty days only. 

Engr. Noel Zeta (PACSII) and Leopoldo Chavez (HPFPI)
turnover the key to Danilo Maranga and Vergie Martel.

Rev. Fr. Rolyn Vics, CM blesses the units

Mayor Jonas Cortes at the second floor
(during the blessing and groundbreaking) 

A Possible Knowledge transfer to Iraq

Six Iraqi government officials led by Iraqi Ambassador to the Philippines Wadee Batti Hanna Al-Batti,  arrived in Cebu on December 10, 2011. The purpose of their visit is the signing of a sister-city agreement with Mayor Jonas Cortes  at the Cebu International Convention Center will highlight the visit.  

Al-Batti said they chose Cebu among other provinces in the Philippines considering Cebu's significance in terms of business and employment, among others.  The sister-city agreement opens numerous job opportunities for Mandauehanons who wish to work in Iraq.

After the signing, the delegation went to a business matching with Mandaue Chamber of Commerce and Industry.

KNOWLEDGE TRANSFER

The Iraqi officials said they will be spending $300 million dollars for the next five years for the re-construction of Iraq’s technology and infrastructure.

(Carlo Bongcac shares ICEB Technology to Iraqi visitor)

Part of their 3-day visit, the Iraqi officials spend time to visit Lower Tipolo Homeowners Association Inc.  Carlo Bongcac of Technical Assistance Movement for People and Environment Inc. (TAMPEI) explains to the delegation the Interlocking Compressed Earth Block technology.  Moreover,  Engr. Noel Zeta of Philippine Action for Community-led Shelter Initiatives Inc. (PACSII) offered his willingness to share his knowledge such technology should the delegation needs it could be in Iraq or in the Philippines.       

(The Iraqi Delegation at the LTHAI ICEB production area)

(House to house visit at the LTHAI)

Construction commences for 6.5 ha relocation site's Model house

Following the November 7, 2011 housing design workshop initiated by Technical Assistance Movement for People and Environment, Inc. (TAMPEI), Sitio Mahayag Alliance of Structures Household Inc. (SMASH) community decided to construct a model house to showcase the low-cost housing technology in the upcoming Urban Poor Solidarity Week on December 11, 2011.

The construction commences last November 21, 2011 in Paknaan 6.5 ha Relocation Site with the LTHAI community construction workers under the supervision of Engr. Noel Zeta and Carlo Bongcac both from Philippine Action for Community-led Shelter Initiatives Inc. (PACSII).  Mandaue City government provided land filing material to a portion of the area where construction materials can be loaded. Furthermore, dump trucks from different barangays were also used in hauling Interlocking Compressed Earth Block from LTHAI’s ICEB production site.

This 6.5 hectare land area would be the relocation site for 1200 household living along Mahiga Creek in Mandaue City subject for demolition and some communities living in a private land who are under eviction threats.   

New CLIFF community

SMASH members are currently living near the exit point of Mahiga Creek (at the back of SM Hypermarket in Subangdaku, Mandaue City. They have been identified for this project because of their savings initiative.  They became a member of Homeless People Federation Philippines Inc. (HPFPI) through the federation’s savings program in the year 2008 and as of September 2011 the community has 28 savings groups (including children’s group) which has a total savings of approximately Seven Hundred Thousand Pesos (P700, 000.00). 

This new community initiative from SMASH is also the newest Community-Led Infrastructure Finance Facility (CLIFF) Housing project supported in Mandaue City following the construction of first batch of twenty (20) row house units at MM Village Homeowners Association Inc. (MMVHAI) both under the supervision of Philippine Alliance’ HPFPI, PACSII and TAMPEI.

Housing Design Workshop for Paknaan Communities

(Leopoldo Chavez of HPFPI)

November 7, 2011 – The Technical Assistance Movement for People and Environment, Inc. (TAMPEI) a technical support group for Philippine Action for Community-led Shelter Initiatives Inc. (PACSII) initiated a whole day housing design workshop for Paknaan 6.5 ha property relocatees.  A total of 209 individual excluding numbers of children attended the said workshop coming from Bantayan sa Hari, Centro, Dunhai, Maguikay, Mahayag, Mahusay, Marna, Nawanao, Orel, Rosal/Philcadan, Sapasapa, and Visayan B.  Majority of which were female with a percentage of 60 while male consists only of 40 percent.

Morning Session

The event started with opening remarks from Leopoldo Chavez, HPFPI’s Regional Coordinator followed by PACSII Regional Coordinator Engr. Noel Zeta’s overview of housing design workshop.  

(Engr. Noel Zeta of PACSII)

The minimum standard and requirements for economic and socialized housing project stated in Batas Pambansa 220 (BP220) was also discussed by Israeli Esnardo, a 5^th year BS Architecture student from USC and at the same time on-the-job trainee of PACSII.   The discussion includes types of housing with its corresponding minimum area, the standard design and the minimum area of 28 square meter of a row house in which the total of 1,200 relocatees share with an equal of the same size 28 sq. meter each.

Considering the number of relocatees, a row house type with 1.5 setback has been proposed to the assembly since it is only appropriate type to accommodate such number for the 6.5 hectares.

Inputs from the City Planning                                    

In addition to the discussion of Ms. Esnardo, Archt. Florentino Nimor of Mandaue City Planning and Development emphasizes that it would be proper to design a house to check its “purpose” first rather than the “structure”.  Other considerations to design a house were added as the following: 

(Archt. Florentino Nimor)

·         The usual setback is 2 meters wide but for the 6.5 hectares we only allocate 1.5 meters

·         Open spaces’ design will be at our responsibility (city government’s discretion)

·         Door height according to BP220 is 2 meters but 1.8 is considerable

·         Make sure also that your house has a proper ventilation and an area for vegetation

He also assured the assembly of his help most importantly that this is initiated by HPFPI/PACSII whose housing processes already demonstrated in LTHAI and MMVHAI community. 

Bubble Diagram by Aldrin Luzares (TAMPEI Young Professional)

A bubble diagram has been introduced by a power point presentation.  This diagram shows which part of a house you should go first.  It also indicates the functional spaces within a house. It is a good idea to create simple house bubble to design floor plan in a very loose form.  This will allow us to play around with the location of rooms and how they interact with one another.

Afternoon Session

Floor Plan Design, Scale Model Making and Finalization/Approval 

During this time the whole assembly was grouped into 11 communities.  They were given a time to draw their individual floor plan and make a scale model according to their floor plan.  After an hour, each group presented for deliberation of their scale model and after which it has been agreed by the whole assembly to use ORHAI group design as the housing design for the 6.5 hectare.                                                                         

 The output of the workshop

The whole group come up with the following housing design and features:

1.       A two (2) storey row house with a terrace on the second floor and a 1.5 sq. meter setback   

2.       With 3 bedrooms at the second floor

3.       A clerestory window at the second floor for ventilation

4.       A Kotec Plastic Septic tank and piping’s will be placed in front of the house unit. 

5.       For floor plan the group come up with 2 schemes

Concluding Remarks by Corazon Tumulak (HUDO) 

(Corazon Tumulak of HUDO)

“The speech of Nonoy (Leopoldo Chavez) as your core person for the 6.5 hectares, you should move forward to your journey.  The government officials change every now and then but you have to continue what you have started.  Let us explain to those who didn’t come today what we have done for the workshop.  The government will issue a passport/gate pass to those qualified family before building structures, so please coordinate with your leaders.  Don’t look up to what the government can give you.  Do what you can do with the help of PACSII as NGO. They are here to help us so that we can move to our relocation site accordingly.  Our success is only at our 

hands.”   

(11 design from 11 communities)

LOWER TIPOLO HOMEOWNERS ASSOCIATION INC (LTHAI) PROJECT UPDATE

October 24, 2011 - The 61 housing beneficiaries of the 3^rd batch LTHAI Housing project has to wait 30-40 days on its full completion in which they are now working on the roof framing.  The construction started November 2010 and estimated to be finished first week of December according to Engr. Noel Zeta. Marlyn Bayon-on a 3rd batch  housing participant suggested that the turnover of these units should be during the Christmas season this year as it is a big success for them.  

   

Out of 255 housing units, the LTHAI community already completed 65 housing units being the first and second batch and some of them already started to repay their loan.  

Both first and second batch has given an option to include the roofing to be part of the loan or from own pocket but they chose not to include in their loan.  As a result, they don’t have the same roofing with different colours and material unlike the third batch which collectively agrees that roofing has to be included as part of their loan. 

Learning through experiences

Engr. Billy Ray Bermejo and John Louie dela Victoria both from PACSII-Mindanao Region spent two day-visit to LTHAI and MMVHAI construction site for a learning exchange as an effective way of sharing strategies and approach between implementing partners. 

The purpose of the exchange is to be well verse regarding Interlocking Compressed Earth Block (ICEB) as an alternative construction material since Engr. Bermejo is used to conventional construction materials and to know how the PACSII-Central Visayas implements the projects particularly in Mandaue City.  

Engr. Bermejo is directly in-charge of housing projects in Davao City, Kidapawan City, and Digos City all in Mindanao Region while John dela Victoria serve as projects documenter.

    

Engr. Noel Zeta  shares knowledge on ICEB with Engr. Billy Ray Bermejo and John Louie dela Victoria

FOUR HOUSEHOLDS ALREADY MOVED IN TO THEIR NEW HOUSING UNITS

(with Daisy Ambos at her new house)

MMVHAI, Subangdaku, Mandaue City - On September 30, 2011 the construction of 20 CLIFF incremental housing units has been fully completed. It took 10 months for first batch of 20 MMVHAI community members to build their dream houses.   At present, four households already transferred to their new housing units following the heavy rainfall last October 8, 2011.

The four household includes Mr. and Mrs. Fermin Ambos, Mr. and Mrs. Diosdado Reyes, Mr. and Mrs. Nestor Argallon and Mr. and Mrs. Carlito Secio each has 2 children.

(Taken at the old house of Mr. & Mrs. Diosdado Reyes) 

(This is now the new house of Mr. & Mrs. Diosdado Reyes)

According to Mrs. Daisy Ambos, the housing project made possible through the community-led initiatives.  First and foremost, the savings program of Homeless People’s Federation Philippines empowered them as a community and through the technical help of Philippine Action for Community-led Shelter Initiatives, Inc. their dream houses has come to reality.  Moreover, through their savings they acquired a loan from Community-led Infrastructure Finance Facility (CLIFF) to facilitate for the incremental housing constructions of first 20 units commence last November 2010.  Other contributing factors for the success include sweat equity, “bayanihan”, labor equity, savings and active in all community activities and meetings.

Mr. Diosdado Reyes added that they are also thankful to the city administration particularly to City Mayor Jonas Cortes for his full support to the community initiatives. 

Following the completion of the first 20 units, the community already screen and approved another 30 housing applicants for the second batch of MMVHAI CLIFF housing project. 

(At the second floor of Ms. Daisy Ambos' unit)

Homeless International/CLIFF meets the Press

"We have to come up with a solution; this is a concern a Filipino concern.  It's not really a UK concern or Sweden concern which the money came from but in solidarity we stand with organization that’s doing something to enable those organizations to become credibly fit of what they do; to become powerful of what they do.  We have the land we've got and we have to be good steward over this land that the city makes available for us.” 

This is the statement of Joe de Swardt Head of Enterprise Programmes and Partnerships of Homeless International in a press conference held  last August 11, 2011 at Mandaue City Mayor’s Conference Room. During the said conference issues regarding how the Homeless International/CLIFF became a partner of the upgrading projects of the 9.2 hectares donated lot and the government’s newly acquired 6.5 hectares relocation site located in Paknaan, Mandaue City for the 12 communities living along the Mahiga Creek were discussed. 

Jenny Hyde the HI’s International Programme Officer also added saying “that one of the aims of CLIFF funding that the fund provided by CLIFF funding is the fund can leverage more funding and more resources within the project. So what can the government contribute, what can beneficiaries contribute is another source of funding.  We’re also looking that the private finance in the Philippines would also get involved in the sector.”

Sarah Stravakakis, an active member of HI as CLIFF Programme Coordinator and is now an outgoing were also present during the Press Conference and the federation team headed by Sonia Cadornigara the Visayas Regional Coordinator of the federation, Leopolodo Chavez (CV Reg’l coordinator), Engr. Noel Zeta (PACSII Reg’l Coordinator) and community leaders of the 12 affected areas.  

The HI team is on their 3-day visit of the Water and Sanitation projects at Lower Tipolo Homeowners Association Inc. (LTHAI) and at Malibu-Matimco Village Homeowners Association Inc. (MMVHAI) housing project assisted by the Homeless Peoples Federation Philippines Inc. and Philippine Action for Community-led Shelter Initiatives Inc.  The federation expect HI’s revisit after six months as mentioned by Jenny Hyde.

(Find out more of Homeless International through this link www.homeless-international.org)

Photo update for MM Village Homeowners Association Inc. CLIFF housing project (Subangdaku, Mandaue City)

Cebu Institute of Technology University Construction Site Tour at Lower Tipolo Homeowners Association Inc. (LTHAI)

Tipolo, Mandaue City (June 21, 2011) - As part of Project Management Tour of Civil Engineering students of CIT University, Engr. Suzette Pacana headed a group of approximately 25 students  (in their 5th year) for a construction site tour  in Lower Tipolo Homeowners Association Inc.

Engr. Noel Zeta (PACSII Reg'l Coordinator) and Rey Tan (In-Charge for LTHAI housing construction) together with the student volunteer now a new board passer Engr. Jonathan Inez  guide the students during the tour.  It was the group's objective to explore new and low cost construction technology and production of Interlocking Compressed Earth Block (ICEB). Prior to the group's site visit, Rey Tan and Engr. Jonathan Inez gave a brief orientation regarding the housing project at the site's PACSII office. 

Currently, LTHAI has five (5) students from the university doing on the job training (OJT). They helped in the construction works like filling of ICEB among others. The five OJT's are Christian Kiyoshi Jacobe, Amir Saddam Alabat, Grezel Cabanero, Angelie Deguerro and William Maglasang all in their fifth year.

Bangladesh Leaders 2-Day Exchange Visit to Mandaue City

June 1, 2011 - DAY 1

Homeless Peoples Federation Philippines, Inc. (HPFPI) and Philippine Action for Community-led Shelter Initiatives Inc. (PACSII) Central Visayas Region welcomes Bangladeshi nationals for an exchange visit to our Slum Dwellers International (SDI) urban development program.  The ten Bangladeshi nationals includes  Md. Shafiqul Islam Akand, Project Director, Second Urban Governance and Infrastructure Improvement  Project, Local Government Engraining Department (LGED), Md. Zakir Hossain, Assistant Engineer, Local Government Engraining Department (LGED),  Md. Saifuzzaman Talukdar, Assistant Engineer, Jamalpur Municipality,   Md. Shaiduzzman, Jamalpur,   Ms. Rohima Khatun, Jamalpur,   A K M Harunur Rashid, Assistant Engineer, Sreepur Municipality,  Azizul Islam, Sreepur Municipality,  Nasima, Sreepur Municipality,  Sadhona Mahal, Senior Advisor- Urban Poverty Reduction and Vulnerability, German Development cooperation (GIZ), and  Rukhen Uddin Ahmed, Adviser on Monitoring and Evaluation, German Development cooperation (GIZ)

Drawing of expectations from the Bangladeshi Team

     

* To know the interventions of HPFPI/PACSII on how they encourage the community to unite themselves and to start the savings programs

* How they started the federation of the communities and how the other group like the government and the academe come together to support them and to help them to plan and also to execute some of the housing for urban poor or relocation scheme for the urban poor. 

After a brief orientation with some PowerPoint presentation done at the CV Regional office, the group headed to LTHAI's ICEB production site to observe the production how is it done and its methodology. 

The first day activity ended with the group's engagement with Mandaue City Administrator Atty. James Abadia in behalf of the city mayor who happens to be out of town that day and City Councilor Diosdado "Dadie" Suico.

June 2, 2011 - DAY 2 - Community Intervention

The community of Malibu Matimco Village Homeowners Association Inc. headed by Dolieta Magdadaro and Nelda Suan were among the community members who shared their personal experiences to the group.  The highlights were tips given by the community on the DO's and DON'TS  with a community leader and this includes: 

1) Understand the different attitudes and characters of the members. As a leader we should consider them so that we could understand every member; 2) listen to their problems; 3) a leader must be understandable, patience, supportive, industrious; 4) should be a model for others and a strong one; 5) if there’s a problem encountered, sit down and discuss the matter until solutions can be found. 6) Do not own the community property (i.e. do not use the community funds for personal usage) and 7) Do not neglect the problem of the member.

Nasima and Rohina (Bangladesh community leaders) appreciate the community being organized and the sanitary technology and most of all they like the MMVHAI's community behaviour.

HPFPI-PACSII and Mandaue City Awards 12 CLIFF houses to MMVHAI

“Ang pag-angkon og usa ka desenteng balay maoy damgo sa usa ka ginikanan ug karong adlawa nasaksihan nato ang pag turnover sa 12 ka balay; 12 ka pamilya ang makapahimulos sa balay. (To acquire a decent shelter is the ultimate dream of a parent to their family, and today we witness the turnover of 12 houses; 12 families can benefit these houses.) What you have done shows what that courage, integrity and perseverance dreams would come true”. – Mandaue City Mayor Jonas Cortes (May 29, 2011 @ the MMVHAI)

The Homeless Peoples Federation Philippines, Inc. and the Philippines Action for Community-led Shelter Initiatives, Inc has formally turn-over 12 CLIFF houses to MM Village Homeowners Association Inc. last May 29, 2011.  A mass was held under a tent with the City Mayor Jonas Cortes, Vice Mayor Glenn Bercede, City Councilors Demetrio “Jun” Cortes, Diosdado “Daddie” Suico, Con. Beethoven “Toben” Andaya, Paz Turlao of the Presidential Commission on Urban Poor (PCUP), Corazon Tumulak of Housing and Urban Development Office (HUDO), Subangdaku Brgy. Captain Ernie Manatad and Brgy. Councillor Noel Fontanoza, and from academe like Archt. Joseph Michael Espina, Archt. Danny Ravina, among others graces the event.

The turnover ceremony was led by Mandaue City Mayor Jonas Cortes and Rev. Fr. Norberto Carcellar, CM the Executive Director of  PACSII as they hand-over a key (a gesture which the City government and PACSII turnover the units) to Dollieta Magdadaro the MMVHAI president.   

It was a dream come true for the beneficiaries of a 1.5 parcel of 9.2 hectares donated lot by Mandaue government to informal settlers located amidst a commercial district where commercial building entrapped the community. The area also lies in a swampy, low lying and no proper sanitary and drainage system built. 

Following the declaration of the 9.2 hectare as socialize housing for the informal settlers of Mandaue City pursuant to the Memorandum of Agreement dated February 4, 1998 the community started the land-filling of their swampy area and constructing drainage last September 2009 after the association acquired financial assistance from Asian Coalition for Community Action (ACCA).   Structural mapping followed in the month of October 2009, had a subdivision planning workshop where men and women grouped separately to show the priorities and preferences of each gender.  HPFPI team together with technical team of PACSII helped the community to come up with a housing design during the workshop; a house design was agreed to stand on a 32 square meter a two-storey with 3 bedrooms on the second floor and a terrace.  The housing project is intended for 311 informal settlers of Lower Malibu, Subangdaku, Mandaue City.

The association granted a loan of 1.5M for first batch of 20 housing units from Community-led Infrastructure Financial Facility or known as CLIFF through PACSII which means each beneficiary has to pay to the association of P75, 000.00.  The loan is payable monthly within five (5) years to build more units for their community. 

This housing project is a replicate from Lower Tipolo Homeowners Association Inc. (LTHAI) which utilizes an alternative low cost technology known as Interlocking Compressed Earth Blocks (ICEB).  The community also provide their sweat equity as another factor to lessen the housing cost.    These are some of the fruitful results of the community initiative to improve their way of living.

“Let me take this opportunity to thank all the involve stakeholders in this cause and let our partnership be a testament of what we can do.” This is the parting words of Mayor Jonas Cortes during the ceremony following his full support to continue the housing project even with all the few opposing the development. 

PHOTO UPDATE Malibu Matimco Village Homeowners Association Inc.