41T families wait for lots

CEBU, Philippines- There are now at least 41,000 families waiting to be accommodated by the socialized housing program of the Cebu City government.

Division for the welfare of the Urban Chief Collin Rosell said that the number of families increased after the barangay-based registration of socialized housing beneficiaries conducted in 2012.

Rosell said it is possible the number will increase this year, saying it does not include the families that have yet to be affected by a court-ordered demolition.

“The 41,000 are the people qualified under the socialized housing program yet the city government has not appropriated something yet. Ang qualifications lang gyod is they can trace their roots ngari, registered voter sa city,” he said.

Currently, Rosell said that these families are staying in private and public areas in different barangays in the city and some are living near danger zone areas.

Of the total number, 10,000 families are living in danger zone areas like near rivers, creeks and landslide-prone areas, among others. The city government needs at least 150 hectares to house the informal settlers.

He said that the city government needs to pass the proposed ordinance institutionalizing site development and lot acquisition for the socialized housing program of the city to “progressively address” the backlog.

To this effect, councilors Alvin Dizon and Nestor Archival Sr. proposed an ordinance known as the “Cebu City Socialized housing site Development and Lot Acquisition Fund.”

The authors proposed to allocate at least two percent of the annual budget for the site development and lot acquisition for the city’s program, adding that the fund should not be less than P100 million.

“This is how important the proposed ordinance because it progressively addresses the backlog, kay naa nay budget,” Rossel said, adding that the socialized housing program started in 1988.

Rosell said that the city government has an existing 70-hectare lot that has accommodated at least 10,464 home lots already.

The accumulated backlog, he said, resulted because there was no funding and the city chose to prioritize families displaced because of fires.

“However, the city-owned relocation sites still need to be fully developed to ensure that they can withstand and adapt to the effects of the climate change,” Dizon said.

Dizon said that the city government should be proactive in addressing the backlog considering the increase of population in the city.

During the public hearing of the proposed measure on February 11, the proposed measure drew positive response from the stakeholders.

DWUP, Alliance of People’s Organization Working for Empowerment and Resettlement (APORWER), and representative from the associations of urban poor said they are in favor of the passage of the ordinance.

However, APORWER President Floro Enricuso asked the city council to consider its suggestions. He said the proposed measure should include the proper turnover of the beneficiaries of the socialized housing program.

“Dapat pod mo-secure og clearance from homeowners aron malikayan ang incidents nga pareha anang humana ang project sa papel pero wala pa diay sa actual. Nituo mi nga through transparency, we eliminate corruption,” he said. —/BRP (FREEMAN)