Homeowners seek residents’ help

THE three homeowners’ associations in Barangay Luz want the new occupants of the lots where the 32 structures will be demolished to help them in paying the expenses in their case against 32 families.

Councilor Nida Cabrera said the homeowners’ associations in sitios Mabuhay, Lubi, and Nangka spent P2.9-million to counter the case filed against them by the Barangay Luz Urban Poor Association (Blupa).

This does not include yet the estimated P3.1-million for the penalties and interests.

“P6 million gyud among nagasto tanan. Dako gyud kaayo mig nagasto anang kasoha (We spent big on that case),” said Cabrera, who heads the Nangka Homeowners Associations (HOA).

Mabuhay

But Cabrera said they only want the new assumees of the lots to help Mabuhay HOA, Lubi HOA and Nangka HOA pay on the P2.9 million.

“Amo lang i-deduct sa ilang monthly amortization,” she said.

It was in 1994 when Blupa filed a case against the Mabuhay HOA, Lubi HOA, and Nangka HOA and the Cebu Provincial Government to resist the community mortgage program (CMP) that allowed the urban poor to own their homes through a 25-year amortization plan.

Covered

Blupa did not want to be part of the CMP because its members wanted to directly buy the property, which is also covered by Provincial Ordinance 93-1, from the Province and not through the association.

However, the Regional Triacl Court Branch 11 have ruled that members of Blupa have no right to own, buy, and posses the subject properties.

Asked if the move to let them pay will discourage the new assumees from occupying the lots, Cabrera believes it will not, saying they are the recipients of the cleared home lots.

Current value

The new assumees will be paying P600 per square meter, which is the current value of the subject lots.

Out of the 32 structures, nine of them which are in Mabuhay have already been demolished last Monday. Those in Nangka and Mabuhay are already voluntarily tearing down their houses.