Relocation site has no recommendation from housing board

CEBU, Philippines - After the P20.9 million worth of socialized housing site was lobbied to the Cebu City Council, the committee on housing found out that there was no recommendation from the Local Housing Board to purchase over one hectare of land in Barangay Pit-os.

What was only attached was LHB Resolution 14-067 recommending the granting of authority to the mayor to negotiate with the lot owners, spouses Avenescio and Carmelita Piramide.

The property is being eyed as a relocation site for the 157 families whose houses in sitio San Miguel, Barangay Apas have been demolished and are yet to be demolished.

Councilor Alvin Dizon, chairman of the housing committee, invoked Section 6 (6.6) of City Ordinance 2383 (An Ordinance Establishing Guidelines Housing and for Other Purposes) which stipulates that LHB shall recommend to the council to approve the purchase of the lot for socialized housing.

This follows upon the completion of certain requirements, such as a memorandum of agreement, deed of absolute sale, city legal opinion, site evaluation report, and tax declaration, among others.

The council has set an executive session on March 11 to iron out the matter, including the issue on the projected site’s slope that may not be “safe and habitable” for urban poor beneficiaries’ resettlement.

The legislative body wants the Division for the Welfare of the Urban Poor to shed light on the issue by presenting photos of the slope and terrain; present the cost estimates of the site development project; and provide certification from the Mines and Geosciences Bureau that the property is not prone to landslides.

Dizon said this would ensure that what happened to the relocation site in Barangay Sinsin will not be repeated again. He recalled that the city purchased a property in the said mountain barangay but it became idle after the MGB found out that it is a landslide prone area and not safe for occupation.

“We are aware of the urgency of the relocate site. However, it is equally important to ensure that the relocation sites are fit and safe for human habitation. It is high time for the city to ensure the safety of the relocation sites and as occupants as a concrete measure to reduce its risks to disasters especially since typhoon in the Visayas are getting more frequent and stronger due to climate change,” said Dizon.

Based on the site development plan of DWUP, the property, which is rectangular in shape, is “75-percent moderately rolling and 25-percent slope.” The site inspection report of the City Planning and Development Office, on the other hand, cited that the property is approximately 30 degrees in slope.

“The committee is concerned that the slope of the property is 30 degrees learning from the past experience where the city government purchased lands without taking into consideration of the slopes,” Dizon added.

He pointed out that to avoid spending more on the site development works, the city has to consider the slope of its socialized housing sites.

The proposed site sits on a 10,432-square meter lot with a lot value of P2,000 per square meter, which is lower than the P2,200 appraised value of the City Appraisal Committee. — (FREEMAN)