46 accredited urban poor organizations in Tagbilaran City joined together as an act of solidarity in advancing the ideals of the organization. City Mayor Jane Yap thanked the commitment and support of the entire organization to her administration, “Celebrating Christmas in the past two years have been challenging. Tonight, I will contribute Php100k to make your celebration more joyous and meaningful. Further, we have provided raffle prizes. Let’s continue to strengthen our unity and cooperation. As one of our partners in development, we will always be ready to serve you,” said Mayor Jane Yap.
The event started with a Thanksgiving Mass followed by a string of messages from the Tagbilaran Urban Poor Organization (TAUPO) President Marissa Remolador and Cong. Edgar Chatto. After dinner, all the organizations showcased their talents in various categories, Dayegon, Modern Dance, Pastores, Folk Dance, and Pop Song. City Mayor Jane Yap raffled off Php30,000 cash and electric appliances such as gas range, electric fan, rice cooker, stove, and refrigerator.
The City Government has been in constant pursuit to address the growing problems of the urban poor. In fact, Bohol’s first high-rise public housing building is set to rise in Tagbilaran City as Mayor Jane Yap lead the groundbreaking ceremony of the Tagbilaran City Tenement Housing project. The high-rise public housing facility is one of the flagship advocacies of Mayor Jane Yap. A beneficiary selection committee was established to process applications for potential occupants.
The City Government has been working to provide an affordable and safe housing to the city’s informal settlers. Various site inspections have been conducted to scout for an appropriate location for the socialized housing. Partnerships with various agencies such as the National Housing Authority, Social Housing Finance Corporation, Presidential Commission for the Urban Poor, and the Department of Human Settlements and Urban Development. To date, there are 46 urban poor organizations in Tagbilaran. The Local Shelter Plan is scheduled for updating to address the gaps in the housing sector. (Jeannete Busano)
