Still no land titles for Sendong survivors

CAGAYAN de Oro City Mayor Oscar Moreno on Monday, December 16, challenged the City Housing and Urban Development Department (CHUDD) to do better and expedite the processing of land titles for Sendong survivors.

In his speech during the commemoration of the eight years since Typhoon Sendong ravaged the city, Moreno noted the “poor attendance” of the typhoon survivors, saying they may have gotten tired waiting for their land titles after eight years.

“Dugay ra sila gahulat. Maluoy ko sa Sendong victims nga sige hulat. Okay naman ilang kahimtang sa relocation projects, pero all these are not enough. Muabot gyud ta sa hisgutanan sa titulo that should be given to the beneficiaries,” he said.

(The Sendong victims have waited for a long time, and I pity them. Although they have benefited from the relocation projects, it’s still not enough. The land titles should be given to the beneficiaries.)

The mayor, whose term ends in two years, said that until the titles are distributed, his mission is still not accomplished. He added that he wants the CHUDD to finish the processing of land titles before he leaves office.

To fast-track the process, Moreno urged the CHUDD to use the estate tax amnesty which aims “to provide the taxpayers a one-time opportunity to settle estate tax obligations through an estate tax amnesty program that will give reasonable tax relief to estates with outstanding estate tax liabilities.”

“I’m pushing CHUDD to work faster on that. I’m not saying they’re delaying or dragging it, gapaningkamot sila (They’re working hard on it). But I think it can still be improved,” he said.

“By next year, hopefully, the land titles distribution would make a much better commemoration. We will commemorate the tragedy in your relocation site where we will distribute the lot titles to you,” the mayor added.

Of the 28 Sendong resettlement sites allotted for more than 6,000 survivors, CHUDD chief engineer Ermin Pimentel admitted that their office managed to process only seven sites for lot titling.

The City Government marked the eighth year of the worst flood that hit the city with a mass and a program with the homeowners associations.

Rev. Msgr. Cirilo Isnani, meanwhile, said survivors must also find joy amidst the pain.

“Magpahalipay kita sa mga kadagkoan sa dakbayan kay sa pagtabang nila sa nabiktima sa trahedya. Maglipay kita kay sa mga nahabilin pa, gumikan kay naa pay talagsaong higayon nga makabangon kita ug naningkamot para mas molig-on pa,” Isnani said.

(We should rejoice that the city’s leaders helped the victims of the tragedy. We should also be glad that we survived, as we have the opportunity to rise and strive to be stronger)