DESPITE non-assessment for possible relocation, the residents of Salmonan, Quezon Boulevard still has an option to avail of relocation within the city through the Social Housing Finance Corporation (SHFC), an official said.
City Planning and Development Office head Ivan Cortez said once you refuse tagging, you have to surrendered your privilege to be assessed as a possible relocatee or awardee for a relocation site, but this does not mean that the residents cannot avail housing loans offered by the national government.
He said even if they were census tagged, almost nobody will qualify under the Urban Development of Housing Act (UDHA) because that law is created to stop illegal settling and does not cover those who illegally settled after 1992.
"What we can advise is for them to facilitate and form an association for them to avail socialized housing program. Their association may deal with the Government owned Corporations and Companies (GOCCs) for community mortgage program of SHFC," he said.
He said the CPDO, Housing and Homesite Division will have to accredit their association and when they have done that they can already negotiate for relocation site and housing program with SHFC, which will allow them to loan an amount, payable for years.
"The members of the association will have to agree with the cost of monthly payment," he said.
Cortez cited recently demolished residents near the Bolton Bridge have already formed an association and availed the community mortgage program.
"The residents from Bolton Bridge were able to find a lot at Tacunan and they are now negotiating with the SHFC for that," he said, adding that the residents there opted to only negotiate for the lot, as they will build their homes out of their money.
Cortez said usually, it will be initiative of the residents to find the lot since they will be the ones who will assess if they can afford the lot or not.
He said the CPDO is ready to assist them if they want to organize.
“We can facilitate for the organization process, on the development on how to organize, down to the selection of officers, and to the methods on how they can apply formally as a group to the finance corporation," Cortez said.