PLARIDEL, Bulacan—A housing project intended for church workers and victims of Typhoon Ondoy is set to rise in this town with the support of Catholic charities here and abroad.
Father Dennis Espejo of the St. James Parish here said they will initially build 250 houses in a five-hectare lot in Barangay Lumang Bayan here before the end of the month.
It will be home for workers of the Diocese of Malolos including retired priests, and families living along river banks in the province whose houses were damaged by Ondoy in 2009.
“We envision a self- sustaining community,” said Espejo.
He noted that about two hectares of the total five-hectare housing development project will be devoted to different livelihood activities like farming.
But farming is not the only livelihood program for beneficiaries of the housing project.
Espejo said they have already started training programs for pop-rice making, candle- and soap-making, and meat processing.
He said the absence of livelihood programs is the number one problem within the confines of newly established housing projects like the Northville villages for some 30,000 families affected by the NortRail Project in the province.
“If we want the housing project to succeed, it should have livelihood program,” he said.
According to Espejo, the construction of the housing project is part of the 50th anniversary of the Diocese of Malolos that will be celebrated in March next year.
“This is part of the Church’s recognition to hundreds of people working for the diocese, but do not own their house. It’s a gift for them,” he said.
However, he noted that even victims of the typhoon Ondoy will be given opportunity to relocate to the said housing project.
With regards to retiring priests, Father Prospero Tenorio of the St. Anthony Parish in Hagonoy town said they could opt to live in the said housing project instead of staying in a village intended for retired priests located in San Ildefonso town.
Tenorio said that retiring priests still want to live with a community of people to continue their vocation to serve.
The housing project is supported by the Caritas Foundation based in Australia and in the Philippines.
Espejo said that houses will be constructed in 30 to 33 square meter lots and will be payable in 15 years.
