Batangas LGUs, FPIP launch free housing project for poor families displaced by ‘Kristine’

Two local government units (LGUs) in Batangas and Lopez-led economic zone developer First Philippine Industrial Park (FPIP) have launched a project to provide new houses for more than a hundred indigent families who lost their homes during the onslaught of Typhoon Kristine last year.

Proponents of the project, called Sulong Batangas, held a groundbreaking ceremony March 12, 2025, in the town of Agoncillo in Batangas to mark the start of construction of the free houses. Sulong Batangas aims to gather funds and other resources for the construction of 150 housing units at an estimated total cost of P45 million.

The houses, each occupying a 50-square-meter lot and costing P300,000, will be awarded to families who were displaced when Kristine barreled through Batangas and other areas of Luzon in late October 2024. Most of these typhoon victims still live in temporary evacuation areas in Agoncillo five months after the typhoon.

Batangas Gov. Hermilando Mandanas, through Provincial Administrator Wilfredo Racelis, initiated the project along with Mayor Cinderella Valenton-Reyes of Agoncillo and with FPIP officials, led by Vice President Ricky Carandang.

Under the project, the Agoncillo LGU donated a 1-hectare lot as site for the free housing project. As the main private sector representative, FPIP will organize a campaign to raise funds from other private entities, including FPIP locators.  As of March 12, 32 units have already been committed by various donors.

“This is FPIP’s way of showing support not only to our proactive LGUs but also to our fellow Batanguenos,” Carandang said.

Through the widened campaign for support, non-profit organization Gawad Kalinga Community Development Foundation has joined the project with a commitment to build the housing units and oversee its community development aspects.

Batangas Vice Gov. Mark Leviste, Valenton-Reyes and Agoncillo Vice Mayor Daniel Reyes likewise extended help to the project in their personal capacities Other proponents of the project included Batangueno businessman James Chan, Lima Estate and several other individuals.

According to Valenton-Reyes, more than 400 poor families in Agoncillo lost their homes to Kristine. The Sulong Batangas project, which is an ongoing drive for donations, aims to help more typhoon victims in Agoncillo build their new homes.