Mandaue City — Mayor Jonas Cortes told the Daily Tribune that the Tipolo Residences Units 1 and 2, part of a housing project designed to accommodate victims, are expected to be ready for occupancy by mid-August, aligning with the city's Charter Day celebration on 30 August 2024.

The project aims to provide permanent homes for 194 families displaced by the catastrophic fires in Sitios Basubas and Maharlika in Barangay Tipolo in 2019, and in Barangay Guizo in 2016.

“These families are finally receiving decent homes after living in stagnant conditions where flooding and mosquitoes were constant threats. This transformation marks a significant improvement in their living standards and reflects our commitment to providing better living conditions for our people,” Cortes said in Cebuano.

He emphasized Mandaue City has chosen to keep its displaced residents within the urban center.

“We recognize that many of these families work within the city, and uprooting them to far-flung areas would only create more hardships. This project serves as a model for socialized housing within the city's heart, ensuring that our less privileged citizens remain connected to their livelihoods and the community,” Cortes added.

The Tipolo Residences project is a socialized housing initiative of the Mandaue City Government in collaboration with private developer Cebu Landmaster Inc. (CLI). Each unit offers 24 to 25 square meters of space, including private bathrooms, sinks, and an elevator for senior citizens.

Occupants of Tipolo Residences will be required to make monthly payments to help cover building maintenance costs, which will be kept affordable. Homeowners are strictly prohibited from selling or renting out their units; any violations will result in blacklisting from future socialized housing programs.