CEBU CITY–Some residents in Naga City, southern Cebu will no longer worry about having roofs over their heads..

Led by Mayor Valdemar Chiong, the city government on Wednesday, Aug. 19, turned over 56 low-cost housing units as part of its “Naga Tabang sa Panimalay” housing program. 

Chiong said each 20-square-meter unit with one room  and a comfort room was donated for free to qualified beneficiaries.

“We emphatize with you because when it rains hard, when winds are strong, you can no longer sleep because water starts to leak from the ceiling,” Chiong told the beneficiaries during the turnover ceremony.

Chiong said the 56 units are part of the 160 houses that were funded through the city’s 2025 allocation of about P28 million. 

Initially, the construction cost was estimated to be at P160,000 per unit. The cost  increased to  P200,000 per unit after prices of construction materials shot up.

“The increase was caused by the rising fuel costs caused by the US-Iran war,” said Chiong.

The mayor said 77 units are still being constructed.

Chiong said the city’s plan to construct more houses in the coming years may be affected by the higher construction costs.

The city plans to allocate funds for an additional 100 units.

Chiong said the program encountered many challenges for its implementation.

Aside from increasing costs of construction materials, securing land was also a challenge as many beneficiaries live on properties they do not own. 

Among the beneficiaries were 18 families in Barangay Uling who were affected by a rockfall. 

Other identified beneficiaries came from Barangay Cantao-an with four, Barangay Mayana with five, Barangay Lanas with one, Barangay Naalad with three, Barangay Tangke with two, Barangay Cogon with four and Barangay Lutac with four.

City Planning and Development Coordinator Engr. Joveno Garcia said the project provides decent and affordable housing among low-income families who cannot afford to secure adequate shelter.

“Many households here in Naga continue to live in overcrowded and substandard housing,” Garcia said.

Chiong said beneficiaries were chosen by their respective leaders.

“There was no politics here. Whether they are supporters or not, as long as they qualified, they were included as beneficiaries,” Chiong said.

Chiong reminded the beneficiaries that renting out or selling the units is prohibited.

“We hope that this project will make a difference in your lives. Through these houses, we hope that the quality of life will somehow improve,” Chiong said.