Most city subdivisions have no approved plans

CEBU, Philippines - The Division for the Welfare of the Urban Poor (DWUP) said that most of the homeowners associations in Cebu City do not have an approved subdivision plan.

“Among the estimated 131 homeowners associations, 113 are without approved subdivision plan,” DWUP chief Atty. Collin Rosell told The FREEMAN.

Rosell’s admission came following a complaint from the members of the Upper Stephenson Home Owners Association in Barangay Budlaan about a supposed resurvey for their subdivision.

The group, in a letter sent to Committee on Housing chairman councilor Alvin Dizon, questioned the plan, insisting that they have already paid for a survey more than 10 years ago when they relocated to Budlaan after their houses were demolished in Barangay Apas.

The group, through their president Zorina Aniñon, wished to be clarified of the alleged plan of DWUP.

“Kapila man diay surveyhon? Sigon sa among orientation before mi nag-MOA (memorandum of agreement) nga kung ma-impas na tanan, usa pa ang final nga survey,” Aniñon said.

The group attached a photocopy of a payment receipt amounting to P18,900 issued and signed by geodetic engineer Crispin C. Torres, Jr. as payment for the land survey of 27 lots.

But Rosell explained that the planned survey does not only concern their association but all other subdivisions around the city.

“The survey is not just for Stephenson (but) for all the 113 associations that were found to have no approved subdivision plans. So this is not a re-survey as they call it,” Rosell said.

The urban poor welfare chief said some of these associations were probably tricked into paying for a survey that did not happen.

“I am also an urban poor resident. I was also fooled before into paying for a survey but there was no legitimate one done. Kini man gung mga urban poor intawn mailad ra man anang naay mag sukod-sukod. Abi sad nato ug mao na to nga survey pero dili diay,” Rosell added.

He said there are associations in Budlaan who wanted to have the survey to finally have the legal proof of their residency.

“Some associations initiated to have a survey at their own expense to have the plan approved soonest. The government is doing its best to make the budget for the survey available,” the DWUP chief said.

The survey is an initiative of Budlaan homeowners and DWUP is assisting in all its capacity, he explained.

“This is a community action. DWUP and the office of the city mayor will try to have reimbursement. It’s up to the council to approve for the release of funds,” Rosell said. (FREEMAN)