DMCI Homes cited for helping Rotary housing for homeless

The Rotary International (RI) District 3830, one of the 10 Rotary districts in thePhilippines, has recognized the contribution of triple A property developer DMCI Homes to its housing project for poor families living along the banks ofParañaqueRiver.

International leaders of the RI, local leaders and members of District 3830, which is composed of Rotary Clubs in southern Metro Manila and Palawan, and the District 3830 Rotary Homes Parañaque Foundation, which is spearheading the housing project together with the Parañaque City government, presented DMCI Homes a plaque of appreciation for donating Php 12 million to fund the building of 92 row houses for the Rotary Homes project during the organization’s annual gathering held at the Manila Hotel on March 23.

Rotary Homes Foundation chairman Sid Garcia presented the plaque of appreciation to DMCI Homes Senior Marketing Manager Jan Venturanza and Project Development Manager Dennis Yap during the segment of the event recognizing district Rotarians who donated funds for the housing project along NAIA Avenue near the Ninoy Aquino International Airport in Parañaque City.

“DMCI Homes’ donation is very significant. Because of their generous donation, we will now be able to finish phase one of the Rotary Homes project,” said Garcia. “We’re targeting 150 homes for phase one and they have given more than 50 percent of the units. They have made the project happen in terms of funding.”

Garcia also thanked DMCI Homes President Alfredo R. Austria and SVP for Finance Ramil B. Lombos “for having seen the significance of the project, in really helping the poor and in giving them new lease on life by giving them homes.”

DMCI Homes has built and is building dozens of resort-style residential condominium complexes in Metro Manila. While its condominiums cater to middle-income families, the company gives back to the community hosting its project. InParañaqueCity, where it is buildingArista Placein Barangay Sto. Niño, DMCI Homes had sponsored medical missions for poor residents of the village and donated to the Rotary Homes project.

“DMCI Homes builds homes for Filipino families. It makes no sense for us to be not involved in housing projects such as this,” said Venturanza, referring to the housing program with Rotary .

Mon de Leon, an official of the Couples for Christ Answering the Cry of the Poor (CFC ANCOP), which handles the resettlement of the poor families to Rotary Homes, and Parañaque City Councilor Benjo Bernabe spoke during the event thanking District 3830 leaders and the donors. DeLeonnoted that Rotary Homes is not only providing shelter to poor people but also transforming their lives.

“You have given them much hope. You have given them a lot of things to dream about this time,” he said.

Bernabe, who delivered the message of his Rotarian father, Mayor Jun Bernabe, said the Rotary Homes project is also helping transform the city for the better.

“The City will forever be grateful for this project given to residents of Parañaque,” he said.

The Rotary Homes aims to shelter 1,500 of the 2,500 poor families that will be relocated from their makeshift homes along the banks of theParanaqueRiver. The housing project located at a 4.2-hectare city government property in Barangay La Huerta was an offshoot of the District 3830 and city government joint project to rehabilitate the polluted river launched in 2008. As the informal settlers along the river banks have to be relocated to keep the river clean after rehabilitation, the District 3830 and the city government headed by Mayor Bernabe launched the Rotary Homes project in 2009 in partnership with the CFC ANCOP and the anti-poverty movement Gawad Kalinga. Housing beneficiaries will build the homes themselves. ###