THE Quezon City government hosted on Wednesday 17 senior architecture and urban planning students from various universities in Europe and Asia visiting the country as part of their “urban shelter course” conducted by Lund University in Sweden.
The students took part in a field study tour on housing development and management in Quezon City, as Mayor Herbert Bautista personally welcomed the students at city hall.
According to TAO-Pilipinas, which organized their visit, “Quezon City under the Bautista administration has been a model of good governance and innovative housing initiatives in the country, one where foreign students have earned a lot to learn from.”
Bautista briefed the students on his administration’s commitment to address the city’s housing needs, including the relocation of informal settler families occupying danger zones and constructing low-cost housing projects for the poor.
The in-city housing project, called Bistekville, is chief among the city government’s housing initiatives.
“We are hoping that all of us can benefit from these exchanges,” Bautista said.
Johnny Astrand, who led the Lund University delegates, was hopeful the field study tour will greatly contribute to the professional development of their students.
Astrans is hoping to expand the exchange program between the city and Lund University, where the Swedish culture can contribute and make its impact on QC.
An overview of the projects and accomplishments of the city government, showcasing its development efforts in housing, urban planning and disaster management, was presented to the delegates.
The delegates, a mix of students from Sweden, Russia, Lebanon, Palestine and Czechoslovakia, proceeded to HURA Homes II in Barangay Vasra, developed by the QC government for low-income city hall employees.
City Architect Virgilio Regala, a Lund University alumnus, facilitated the courtesy call of the delegates, who are visiting the country for three weeks to do site visits, interviews and surveys of various housing projects in the country undertaken by public, private and civil society organizations.
The field study tour, designed to give foreign students the opportunity to understand local shelter and environmental issues, was locally coordinated by TAO-Pilipinas Inc., a women-led technical non-governmental organization based in Quezon City.