By Rjay Zuriaga Castor
The Iloilo City government has awarded a PHP 2.539-billion socialized housing project aimed at reducing its housing backlog for informal settler families and low-income earners.
Mayor Jerry Treñas signed the Notice of Award (NOA) on March 10 for the Uswag Condominium Complex project, granting the contract to EON Realty and Development Corp.
EON Realty secured the project after no other bidder challenged its proposal.
The Uswag Condominium Complex will feature 1,677 housing units across 13 ten-story towers in Barangay San Isidro, Jaro, according to the city government.
Qualified beneficiaries can purchase units at PHP 1.53 million for 24-square-meter units and PHP 1.71 million for 27-square-meter units, based on the new pricing approved by the Department of Human Settlements and Urban Development (DHSUD).
The development will include a multipurpose hall, basketball court, swimming pool, parks, playground, guardhouse, and materials recovery facility.
The city government reported that over 2,000 applicants have expressed interest in acquiring units.
“We want more vertical housing because our city has limited land. So it is more suitable for us,” said Atty. Peter Jason Millare, head of the Iloilo City Local Housing Office.
“This will address the housing needs of our very large middle-income group,” he added.
In April 2024, the city partnered with DHSUD and Pag-IBIG under the Pambansang Pabahay Para sa Pilipino (4PH) program to advance the housing project.
DHSUD oversees the implementation of 4PH, while Pag-IBIG provides special housing loans under the program, offering members reduced home prices and lower monthly amortizations.
EON Realty’s proposal was delayed due to Public-Private Partnership (PPP) Code requirements, which mandated feasibility study approvals from the PPP Center.
DHSUD data shows that Iloilo City has a housing backlog of 29,948 units for informal settlers dating back to 2013.
DHSUD Region 6 targets constructing 123,817 housing units annually from 2023 to 2026 to address the shortage.
