ANGELES CITY -- The City Government here has acquired a 2.18-hectare private property worth P10.925 million in Barangay Margot which is being occupied by some 120 families.
Under the contract to sell, the local government will pay an initial P4 million to the land owner Lolita McCrann and the remaining balance of P6,925,500 payable in the next two years or P3,462,500 annually.
The property will eventually be sold to the actual settlers for P500 per square meter.
Mayor Edgardo Pamintuan, Councilor Amos Rivera, McCrann’s daughter Mirasol Macapagal Ajos, LUPAHO head Jericho Baldemor, and Margot Chairman Jose Bagang led the signing of the contract to sell and deed of donation at the village’s covered court last Friday, September 29.
Pamintuan praised the McCrann family for their sincerity to distribute the land to the residents.
The mayor also asked the beneficiaries to unite and settle their previous differences with the land owners. “Misasanmetung tamu pu at kalingwan ta na ing milabas.”
Rivera for his part thanked the McCrann family and the barangay leaders for the realization of the project.
Rivera also lauded Pamintuan for supporting the project saying the latter has vowed to prioritize during his last and third term land and housing projects for the indigents.
“Our beloved mayor promised that there will be no more squatters in his own country,” Rivera said.
From the original selling price of P2,000 per square meter, the land owners agreed to sell the land to the informal settlers for P500 per square meter, according to Rivera.
Once the property is fully paid by the local government, the beneficiaries will start paying the city with the same price without interests and penalty, the councilor said.
The settlers will also be given option to decide on the term and mode of payment for the land they are occupying, Rivera added.