Monday, July 28, 2008 CH increases by 7% efficiency in collection of housing dues By Rene H. Martel Sun.Star Staff Reporter
THE Cebu City Government has increased by at least seven percentage points its collection efficiency rating, four months after urban poor organizations held a general assembly and discussed their concerns.
But the target to reach the past year’s efficiency rating of 97 percent still has to be realized.
Beneficiaries are asking for a one-year extension of the ordinance that allowed the restructuring of all outstanding and delinquent housing loans.
Charmae Pyl Nercua, City Hall’s housing consultant, said the collection last March was just around 71 to 75 percent of the target, but it has now increased to 87.
“This is a result of the constant and rigid monitoring of the CMP (community mortgage program) by DWUP (City Hall’s Division for the Welfare of the Urban Poor) and orientation (given to beneficiaries), in close coordination with the Pagtambayayong Foundation,” she said.
But the DWUP, aware of the difficulties beneficiaries are facing, have endorsed their request for the restructuring of their loans.
Last week, City Councilors Richard Osmeña, committee on housing chairman, and Jose Daluz proposed an amendment of the ordinance granting the request.
“There is a compelling need to extend such period if only to give those beneficiaries more opportunities to completely own socialized housing units offered by the City of Cebu,” they said.
They also acknowledged that the beneficiaries are hard hit by the economic crisis, particularly the unstable prices of rice and fuel, and likewise proposed another ordinance establishing a one-time payment program.
In May last year, the Cebu City Council approved the ordinance that restructured and eased the payment of over P280 million in delinquent housing loans.
The loans were restructured so that the borrowers will have the next 10 years to pay their debts.
However, they only had until May 30, 2008 to avail themselves of the privilege.
Osmeña and Daluz proposed to increase the period to two years, or up to May 30, 2008.
In a report, Nercua, head of the Local Housing Board’s beneficiary selection committee, said that though not all concerns identified in the March assembly were addressed, the City Government has responded to the urban poor’s needs.
On the City’s CMP, particularly on the non-implementation of expulsion as penalty for default payments for three months, she said discussions are being done between the Socialized Housing Finance Committee (SHFC) and Cebu City Government.
Another concern raised was the lack of legal and technical assistance to homeowners’ associations.
The SHFC, Nercua said, has already started reviewing its databank, considering the streamlining of some requirements, as a result of the request to minimize requirements for approval.
On the request for condonation of penalties, she reported that it was approved based on the meeting with City Hall officials and the SHFC.
As to the proposals regarding the off-site and on-site relocation areas, Nercua said the request for public transportation for beneficiaries has not been acted upon.
Most relocation sites are located eight to 10 kilometers away from the workplace of the beneficiaries.
“At least for those in Kapasar (Kalamboan Alang sa Panimuyo sa San Roque Inc. in Barangay Budlaan), Professor (Felisa) Etemadi gave a multicab for transportation,” Nercua said.
The Pagtambayayong Foundation, in partnership with the City Government, provides assistance for vermi-composting, and the City has continued to assist marketing urban poor homeowners’ associations’ products through exhibits.
This was in response to the beneficiaries’ request for Cebu City to “set up and/or explore livelihood programs for urban poor beneficiaries.”
On the request to speed up delivery of basic services, Nercua reported that four artesian wells were installed in three relocation sites, with another four lined up for inclusion in the City Government’s next supplemental budget.
Urban poor community associations are now selling government-subsidized rice, and more than 500 beneficiaries were issued temporary electrical connection certificates.
A partnership with Aboitiz Foundation is also being explored for a permanent electrical connection.
Last Saturday, urban poor leaders met and identified additional concerns that could be raised to the City Government.
