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Sunday, November 14, 2004
341 lots available in relocation sites
Almost two hectares of land in Barangays Canduman and Cubacub in Mandaue City were offered as relocation sites to the squatters who will be displaced by the construction of the new city public market.
Frank Guillena, officer-in-charge of the Housing and Urban Development Office, in his report, said a total of 341 homelots are available as relocation for members of the Centro Landless Home-owners’ Association and Tulay Urban Poor Home-owners’ Association.
Rejected
The lots, though, will not be given to them for free. It will be acquired through the community mortgage program, where the beneficiaries will be paying the National Home Mortgage and Finance Corp. under a long-term amortization plan.
Guillena said another group, called Nagkahi-usang Pundok sa Kabus sa Katawhan, turned down the offer because they wanted free relocation or, at least, one that has a “very cheap” price.
The City Council received a copy of Guillena’s report last week.
Based on the report, the 6,495-square-meter lot in Riverside, Canduman, which was offered at P1,500 per square meter, could generate 130 parcels of land. It is intended for the 127 members of Centro Landless.
There is also another lot in Barangay Cubacub, which has an area of 11,615 square meters and which could generate 211 parcels of land, which was offered for P1,800 per square meter. It is intended for the 88 members of Tulay Urban Poor.
Down payment for both lots was made and the deed of conditional sale between the original lot owners and the two homeowners’ associations was signed.
The financial assistance that the affected families received from the City was used as down payment for the land.
Resettled
The City appropriated P2.4 million as assistance for those affected families who qualified under the Urban Development and Housing Act of 1992.
The installation of lighting and water facilities in these two relocation sites is still being processed.
So far, only 65 and 30 families from Centro Landless and Tulay Urban Poor, respectively, have actually resettled and constructed housing units in the relocation sites.
The others are temporarily renting houses in different areas while waiting for the construction of their housing units.
Last month, City Attorney Erwin Rommel Heyrosa sent demolition notices to the 149 squatter-households still living in the 16,460-square-meter lot at the back of the Mandaue City Sports and Cultural Complex, where the new market is to be constructed.
The squatters opposed the demolition plan and questioned it before the Court of Appeals.
This week, a huge streamer was placed in the sports complex stating that they only have until Dec. 3 to voluntarily vacate.
The City is eyeing the immediate demolition of existing structures in the area so the construction of the new public market can start.
Mayor Thadeo Ouano is concerned that the P40-million assistance given by President Arroyo for the market, which is now with the Department of Budget and Management, might revert to the National Government if it is not used before the end of the year. (ROV)
(November 14, 2004 issue)
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