BARAS, Rizal, Philippines – Families belonging to the low-income bracket of society are expected to benefit from the on-going partnership among the provincial government of Rizal, a private housing group, and the national government for the future housing projects here. This developed after the Rizal government-owned Ynares Village located here welcomes the Contractors and Real Estate Brokers Association (CREBA) Homes on Stilts project which employs a pioneering socialized housing designed for urban poor families. The project showcases the “housing on stilts” model which provides for a two-level expandable housing concept where the living quarter is on the second level and the ground level is open, for possible expansion as additional living space or for commercial and other uses. CREBA has chosen the Ynares Village as its pilot project site, in collaboration with the Rizal provincial government and the Home Development Mutual Fund (Pag-IBIG Fund). The low-cost housing project here is in support of the government’s National Shelter Program and the public-private partnership program of the administration of Rizal Gov. Casimiro Ynares III. (Nel Andrade)

2 FIRES HIT CAVITE

IMUS, Cavite – At least seven persons were hurt while 300 families were rendered homeless after a three-hour fire razed some 100 houses at a neighborhood near Fort San Felipe, a Philippine naval base, in Cavite City. While a row of some 40 commercial stalls outside a mall was also gutted down by a two-hour fire in Bacoor town, the local fire department said. Senior Fire Officer 2 (SFO) Elpidio Urbano of the Bureau of Fire Protection-Central Fire Station said that the two fires broke out simultaneously at 11:40 p.m. The identities of the injured in the fire that struck the rows of houses on P. Gomez Street, Samonte Park, Barangay 62, Cavite City, have yet to be determined as of press time Saturday. The fire site is just beside the naval base compound. Among those injured suffered second and third degree burns and were brought to the nearby hospitals. The burned structures were residential houses made light materials and some commercial establishments, including beerhouses. Senior Insp. Catalino C. Ramos Jr., Cavite City fire marshal, said that the fire damage was initially placed at 3 million. (Anthony Giron)

MOUNTAIN PROVINCE CRAFT EXPO SLATED

BONTOC, Mountain Province – The Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) is again inviting small and medium entrepreneurs to participate in the 22nd Mountain Province Craft Exposition slated from December 8 to 15 at the Provincial Plaza here. One of the must-see events every December, the Craft Exposition is a yearly trade fair organized by DTI to give opportunities to local entrepreneurs and producer-participants to promote and sell their products and services to advance the crafts industry in the province that serves as one of the major sources of income for local residents, especially those in far-flung communities. DTI provincial caretaker Juliet Lucas said this year’s fair schedule is set earlier to coincide with the observance of the Mountain Province Week for Peace slated from December 4 to 10. Various guests and participants from outside the province are invited to attend the week-long celebration. Lucas advised fair exhibitors to apply early as there are only 30 tents available adding that booth sharing is allowed for a maximum of two participants per booth. (Dexter See)