Mayor Isko re-awards Tondominium 1 unit to Smokey Mountain resident
Courtesy of the Manila Public Information Office
Manila City Mayor Francisco "Isko Moreno" Domagoso on Monday awarded a housing unit at Tondominium 1 to Jessie Boy Postrero, a resident of Smokey Mountain who previously failed to secure a unit during the raffle for the city’s public housing program.
The unit was vacated by Felisa B. Esquivel, the former beneficiary, who voluntarily relinquished her slot after her family relocated to a new home.
The city government refunded Esquivel P51,350, representing her total monthly payments while residing in the public housing project.
“Dahil sa pag-angat sa buhay, kusa nang lumipat ng ibang bahay si Ginang Esquivel (Because of their improved circumstances, Mrs. Esquivel voluntarily moved to a new home),” Domagoso said.
Postrero had earlier informed the mayor of the poor living conditions his family experienced in Smokey Mountain, where they rented space in an illegal structure and relied on unsafe water sources.
Tondominium 1 is a 15-storey public housing building completed on February 7, 2022, after construction began on June 1, 2020.
It consists of 168 units, each measuring 42 square meters and featuring two bedrooms, and includes amenities such as elevators, a daycare center, playground, livelihood center, parking spaces, a maintenance room, and a city satellite office.
The project is implemented under Ordinance No. 8730, which outlines the city’s policy to provide adequate and affordable housing to residents of Manila. Minimum wage earners pay P2,000 per month for housing units, with payments remitted to the Manila Urban Settlement Office.
The city government stated that all public housing projects under the ordinance have a 50-year lease term.
It added that renewals are only allowed for townhouse or single-detached units, subject to mutual agreement between the parties.