Talisay councilor defends housing program proposal

The proposal to convert the three-hectare commercial land in barangay Dumlog, Talisay City, into a residential area as site for the city government's housing village program would do well than harm, according to Councilor Arturo Bas.

Bas, who authored the resolution seeking for the conversion of the lot, said the Cebu Dumlog Housing Village program, a project of Bethlehem Day Care Center Foundation, was a noble purpose in addressing the housing needs of the urban poor in the city.

Last Thursday, the City Council approved Bas' resolution after holding it in abeyance for two months following concerns raised by some sectors that the city would become the dumping ground of displaced squatters.

But Bas told The FREEMAN that during a meeting, the council and Mayor Socrates Fernandez supported the program.

Bas said that Cebu archbishop Ricardo Cardinal Vidal, Cebu first district Rep. Eduardo Gullas and Governor Gwendolyn Garcia have also expressed their support for the project.

But only 150 of the 360 beneficiary families have been found to be from Talisay City. The rest were from Cebu City, members of a media organization and other sectors.

In his May 6 letter to Fernandez, Fr. John Iacono, president and founder of the foundation, said "the Cebu Dumlog Housing Village Project aims to contribute to closing the gap between the supply and demand for decent shelter in Talisay."

"We envision that the Cebu Dumlog Housing Village Project would be one of our many fruitful partnerships as we share your commitment to improve the lives of the poor families of Talisay," Iacono said.