Residents’ requests endorsed to Capitol

CEBU, Philippines - The Cebu City Council is lobbying for the Cebu provincial government to accommodate the requests of two homeowners associations in the city for the acquisition of the province-owned lot that they are currently occupying.

In two resolutions, the City Council requested Governor Hilario Davide III to consider the plight of the residents of the city since they have been living in the area for several years. Councilor Alvin Dizon authored both resolutions.

Lower Mahiga, Inahan sa Kanunay Panabang Home-owners Association, Inc. and San Agustin Mahiga Center Association are all based in Barangay Banilad.

For the Lower Mahiga, Inahan sa Kanunay Panabang Homeowners Association, Inc., residents sent two separate communications to the Office of the Provincial Governor.

However, members of the association have reportedly not received any feedback from the office.

In their second letter dated July 14, the association’s president, Gliceria Patalinghug, requested Davide if they could keep their houses, adding that they are willing to buy the lots on installment bases.

“May I appeal once again to allow us to retain our houses by paying in installment the lot at Barangay Banilad,” Patalinghug said.

For the San Agustin Mahiga Center Association, at least 160 members are requesting to purchase the province-owned lot.

Ma. Genita Silagan, the homeowner’s president, said in a June 18 letter sent to Davide that all members expressed interest to buy the lots, which they have been occupying for 10 to 70 years already.

“Sukad niadto’ng tuig 2008 gipahibalo kami sa mga empleyado sa Real State Division sa Provincial Government nga dili na patukuran og mga balay ang mga bakante nga luna ug kung aduna’y necessary repair sa among mga balay kinahanglan nga mokuha pa og permit sa Kapitolyo,” Silagan said, adding that it affected their everyday living.

Both homeowners associations attached with their letters the accreditation from the Housing and Land Use Regulatory Board and Presidential Commission for the Urban Poor.

Dizon, chairman of the City Council’s committee on housing, said that the concerns of the homeowners association should be addressed.

“To request Governor Hilario Davide III to consider and study the proposal of the homeowners association since their right to security of land tenure is at stake,”  (FREEMAN)