Sunday, November 25, 2007 Mayor okays shelter code By Grace L. Plata
THE Comprehensive Urban Shelter and Services Development Code of Davao City, otherwise known as the Shelter Code, was finally signed into law by Mayor Rodrigo Duterte.
According to Dolly Pascua, executive director of the Mindanao Land Foundation, the Shelter Code has been signed into law last November 14, 37 days after it was re-passed by the City Council.
The Mindanao Land Foundation is one of the groups rallying behind the passage of the Shelter Code.
The Shelter Code was passed by the City Council on October 9 after four weeks of going through each section carefully. This after the Shelter Code was vetoed by the mayor for legal infirmities during the 14th council.
Provisions of the Shelter Code include establishing a trust fund earmarked for housing projects.
It also provides that the city housing authority will be the implementing arm for the program while the soon-to-be established Local Housing Board will be the policy-making body.
Urban poor groups, who also pushed for the Shelter Code, hailed the latest development.
"Lipay kaayo mi nga wala na siya na-veto. Gi-review gyud sa mga konshehal. Sa nine months nga among hulat-hulat, na approve ra gyud, (We are very happy it was no longer vetoed. The councilors, indeed, reviewed it. After nine months of waiting, it was finally approved)," Virgie Bayo, chair of the Kobbler Federation of Neighborhood Associations, said.
Pascua, on the other hand, said the groups have requested the mayor to hold a ceremonial signing of the Shelter Code on the opening of the Urban Solidarity Week on December 3.
