CHITO Community: A way to a secured future
By Luzeil L. Laure
Catholic social teaching upholds the right to private property as an essential element of human development. Private ownership, although subject to common good, helps ensure family stability and allows individuals to develop their full potential. The Consuelo “Chito” Madrigal Foundation espouses this social teaching by providing low income families access to private ownership through the CHITO Communities. CHITO stands for Christian Housing Integrating Trade and Ownership. Since 2008, the Foundation has established three communities - one in Vinzons, Camarines Norte and two in Pacol, Naga City.
The Verdejo Family in a home they can call their own.
The Verdejo Family started to reside in one of the CHITO Communities in Naga City in 2016. Together with their two children, they opted for a Gizela Unit – a socialized unit located at Consuelo “Chito” Heights Subdivision. Jonalyn Verdejo is a sales coordinator while her husband, Edmundo Verdejo Jr., is a tricycle driver.
Before the family applied for a slot in the Housing Program, they were informal settlers who bought “rights” near the National Irrigation Administration building at Panganiban Drive, Naga City. The couple knew that it was not enough to secure their future. In 2015, the couple found out from their parents that the Foundation’s Housing Program provides the working poor the much needed access to private ownership. In a CHITO Community, they have an opportunity to own a house and lot they can someday bequeath to their children.
They applied by attending the orientation and submitting all the required documents. After the background investigation, their application was approved. The Foundation believes that the Verdejos are determined to make their life better and with the help of the program, they can have a stable future. The Housing Program is for people like the Verdejos: they have children who will benefit from the housing unit, they do not have access to a housing loan from banks and they do not own any property under their name.
Through a 30-year contract, the Verdejos will one day become homeowners. There are times when they struggle to keep their account up to date, but the couple remains diligent. They know that the land title will be under their name upon full payment. Their sacrifices will surely benefit their family for generations.
The Housing Program conducts orientation every Saturday at 10:00AM at the Madrigal Center for Social Entrepreneurship inside the Ateneo de Naga University Main Campus. Interested parties may also contact 0998-533-1409 or CCMF Bikol through Facebook.
Gizela units at Consuelo “Chito” Heights in Pacol, Naga City.