MANILA - Manila Mayor Isko Moreno on Tuesday said the city government will be moving forward with its social amelioration programs including a vertical housing program that addresses the issue of informal settlers in the city.

Speaking to ANC's Headstart, Moreno said the city government will be making use of a 3,000 square meter space in Tondo and another 2,000 square meters in Binondo for the housing program.

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"We're going to build Tondominium 1, Tondominium 2. We're going to utilize whatever space that we have. Noong araw pag sinabi mong Tondominium patung-patong lang 'yung bahay. The way it is being perceived can be utilized in our advantage," he said.

The in-city vertical housing would consist of 42 square-meter, 2-bedroom units.

He added that they already got in touch with financial institutions to help them with the project.

"Parang bliss, an honest to goodness city government project kaya what we did, we borrowed P5-billion from DBP (Development Bank of the Philippines) and we have still another chance of getting P10-billion from Land Bank," he said.

The money will be used for the social amelioration program of the city which includes housing, healthcare, parks, health centers among others.

SANCHEZ HOUSE, AMCHAM BUILDING

While Manila is focused on development, it is also bent on protecting whatever is left of its heritage sites. "My policy is whatever is left should be protected and how to harmonize development is up to specialists to talk to each other," he said.

He clarified that he approved the demolition of the Sanchez House on Bilibid Viejo Street in Quiapo because there was no opposition.

"We cannot prohibit somebody to utilize his or her property as long as they follow the rules. Walang opposition, walang nag-lobby sa amin na heritage site 'yan," he said.

As for the American Chamber of Commerce Building in Binondo, Moreno said he did not approve its demolition and would look into it.

"If the National Historical Commission disapproved it then I will make somebody liable in our office approving such thing for demolition. Hindi puwede 'yung ikukubli mo sa alkalde 'yung memos at dati nang guidelines. The assumption of any chief executive is that it passed through a process, you're the last person to sign," he said.

He meanwhile urged conservationists to provide the city government with a list of cultural heritage sites.

"Then we go to an agency of the government tingnan nang maige baka naman na-ooverlooked natin," he said.