The City Government of Tagum boosted its image of being a champion of the urban poor as it will host within its soils the Urban Development Resource Center of the Presidential Commission for the Urban Poor (PCUP).

This developed as Tagum City Mayor Rey T. Uy led in the signing of the deed of usufruct between the PCUP headed by its Chairperson, Mr. Hernani B. Panganiban last October 5, 2012 held at the DepEd Conference Hall in Apokon, this city.

The establishment of the said center was made possible through SP Resolution 911, s-2012 approved by the 5th City Council of Tagum which was also affirmed during the Mindanao Urban Poor Summit last September 6, 2012 in Davao City.

The said edifice which will be constructed in Energy Park in Apokon will be a one-stop facility that will serve as a hub for training, documentation, research, information, market-matching and micro-finance for 27 key cities and 12 urbanizing municipalities in Mindanao.

It will cater the needs of urban poor in relocation sites, direct negotiated sites, KALAHI-CIDSS recipients all over Mindanao, LGU housing and frontline officers assigned in urban management and non-government organizations.

Stressing that he runs Tagum as a father more than a mayor, the local chief executive said in his speech that his administration has prioritized a special place for the informal settlers for their unique contribution in keeping the local economy alive.

“They are rolling the economy and thus contributed to the city’s development,” Uy said in front of the officials of field operations division for PCUP Mindanao and the different urban poor leaders coming from the different parts of Mindanao.

PCUP’s Panganiban, on the other hand, is all praise for the leadership of Mayor who trail-blazed the sustainability of Tagum’s housing and relocation programs.

“The discipline and political will embodied by Mayor Uy made all this possible,” Panganiban said.

Also present during the MOA signing were Councilors De Carlo “Oyo” L. Uy, Housing and Relocation Czars Councilors Nicandro Suaybaguio and Joedel Caasi, Councilor Alan D. Zulueta and Houbert Bryann Uy. LOUIE BRYAN LAPAT