New Baguio mayor eyes tenements for squatters

BAGUIO CITY – Mayor-elect Benjamin Magalong is eyeing affordable tenement housing as one of his projects to ease proliferation of squatters or informal settlers in this tourism resort.

Magalong said single detached houses are no longer feasible in the city because of inadequate land space, and informal settlers must learn to accept the idea of living in tenement houses.

He is eyeing a portion of the eight-hectare property ceded by the Dept. of Agriculture to the local government as site for tenement housing.

Magalong said he learned from his consultations with the people during the campaign period demand for affordable mass housing and tenement projects were the ideal answer.

Earlier, the city government put in place its local shelter plan that outlines programs and projects to address housing requirements of the people.

The Baguio government is conducting a head count of individuals or families that need housing units so concerned government agencies can draw up a housing plan to address the growing housing backlog