Thursday, May 15, 2008 [ philstar.com ]
President Arroyo launched yesterday a P252-million, 10-hectare reclamation project in the Baseco Compound in Tondo, Manila that would be the future site of socialized housing for poor residents in the area.
The project is set to be completed within six months.
Assisting Mrs. Arroyo during the capsule-laying ceremony were Philippine Reclamation Authority (PRA) general manager Andrea Domingo, Manila Rep. Amado Bagatsing and Manila Vice Mayor Isko Moreno.
Some 500 residents, led by Barangay 649 Chairman Kristo Hispano, welcomed the President.
In May last year, she directed the PRA to prepare the detailed engineering design of the project, which is located outside the existing 56-hectare Baseco reclamation project of Manila.
To avoid delays in the implementation of the housing phase of the project, Mrs. Arroyo directed the PRA to undertake soil compacting works immediately after the reclamation project is completed.
She said PRA must ensure that flooding does not occur in the reclaimed area during high tides and the rainy season.
She also tasked local officials to check the student-classroom ratio in Baseco to resolve the lack of classrooms in the densely populated area.
In March 2007, the President, in cooperation with the Habitat for Humanity and Manila turned over 1,000 newly-built houses to residents of the Baseco compound who were victims of three major fires.
Mrs. Arroyo also assured residents that the repair of the burnt Teodora Alonzo High School building in Sta. Cruz, Manila will be completed before the opening of classes next month.
Eight classrooms at the third floor of the school were damaged when a fire spread from the adjacent Francisco Balagtas Elementary School in July 2007. Students had to temporarily hold classes on school grounds, and along school corridors unaffected by the fire. – Paolo Romero
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