The Manila City government celebrated National Heroes' Day on Monday, August 30, by breaking ground for the city's fifth housing project - the 20-storey Pedro Gil Residences.
Manila Mayor Francisco "Isko Moreno" Domagoso and Vice Mayor Dr. Maria Sheilah Lacuna-Pangan led the groundbreaking ceremony on A. Francisco Street corner Perlita Street in San Andres Bukid.
"If Lee kuan Yew did it in Singapore 50 years ago, we can do it in Manila despite the pandemic," Domagoso said in a speech. The Late Singaporean leader provided affordable housing to his people.
Domagoso, who grew up among the informal settler families (ISFs) of Manila, "modeled the capital city's own housing program after Singapore's" for ISFs and long-time renters.
Construction work at the city's housing projects will continue amid the COVID-19 pandemic, according to Domagoso.
"Habang busy tayong tumatakas sa pandemya, kailangan tuloy ang ating mga pangarap. Nakakapgod. Pero hindi baleng pagod basta makita kong nakangiti na kayo, masaya na ako," he said.
Pedro Gil Residences will have 309 residential units, each measuring 40 square meters, five of which will be available for rent.
The building will be served by five elevators and will have 125 parking lots.
It will also have a fitness room, a function room, a swimming pool, a roof garden, and a basketball court on the roof deck. The building will also house the Public Health Center which will take up 516 square meters on its ground floor.
Domagoso had earlier announced that the city government will build three more residential buildings, Pedro Gil, San Lazaro, and San Sebastian Residences.
"We will not stop. We will put roof over our people's heads. Bibigyan natin ng kapanatagan sa pamumuhay ang mga taong habangbuhay na lang nangungupahan (We will provide stability to those who have been renting houses and spaces throughout their lives). We will give them homes," he said.
Domagoso also reminded the housing beneficiaries to take care of their homes, follow the rules of the housing community, and pay the low monthly fees.
"We can only do so much. The rest is up to you," he said.
The other housing projects of the city government are Basecommunity, Tondominium 1 & 2, and Binondominium 1.