Manila, October 6 2008 — The formation of the MDG Square Table Discussion (SQTD) Cluster on Shelter capped the celebration of World Habitat Day 2008 in the Philippines. The meeting, organized by UN-Habitat Philippines, was convened by the Philippine Business for Social Progress (PBSP) to address the ballooning housing backlog and worsening effects of rapid urbanization through the scaling up of the STEP-UP Project. The initial salvo of the newly-formed SQTD Cluster on Shelter will be a convergence project focused on the construction of a medium-rise building (MRB) for more than 100 informal settler families in Pasay City. The project will feature the MDG FACES families monitoring their children’s individual progress on the MDGs, the city government providing land and basic services to the families, the business sector providing technical assistance and substantial discounts on the materials for construction and the community capacitated to manage their own affairs and improve their lot.
