Binay to meet DENR on relocation issues

CEBU, Philippines - Vice President Jejomar “Jojo” Binay is meeting today with the officials of the Department of Environment and Natural Resources and other concerned agencies to discuss issues concerning the acquisition of land as relocation sites for Yolanda survivors.

Binay, who chairs the Housing and Urban Deve-lopment Coordinating Council, assured to include in the discussion the possibility of reclassifying portion of Bantayan Island as alienable and disposable for it to be utilized as relocation site and for the reconstruction effort to proceed.

Bantayan Island has been declared as wilderness and protected area under Presidential Proclamation 2151. Legal impediments on land acquisition remain a major concern of some typhoon-affected local government units in the province since some sites are covered only by tax declarations.

The Commission on Audit requires that land titles, rather than tax declarations, should be considered in purchasing areas to be developed as relocation sites.

“We would like to get to what really is the problem. We will discuss it with DENR,” Binay said.

Yolanda’s onslaught left the province with 122,482 houses damaged or destroyed, with 22,423 households need to be relocated since these are located within the 40-meter no dwelling zone.

Of the houses to be relocated, only 1,333 are still being funded by the National Housing Authority but construction has yet to start.

Binay made the assu-rance during his visit yesterday in Tabuelan town where he reported that 200 houses have already been bid out on Wednesday and are set to be turned over to the developer.

“In this particular town, on the basis of our studies, ang nasiraan ng bahay dito, totally wrecked ay 200 houses. So I gave an update… Sinabi ko lang sa kanila banta-yan nila para sa mga beneficiaries,” he said.

During his visit in the town yesterday, Binay was welcomed with the crowd gathering at the Tabuelan Public Market with tarpaulins and some are wearing T-shirts with his picture on it.

Binay, who has been vocal in his intention to seek for higher office in 2016, also assured to increase the benefits of senior citizens, teachers, and barangays officials.

Binay has been in Cebu since Tuesday to visit different towns and cities, including the Yolanda-affected areas.

He opted to visit the province than facing the Senate Blue Ribbon Committee, which is conducting an inquiry into the corruption charges filed against him. (FREEMAN)