Urban poor members want Talisay housing chief ousted

CEBU, Philippines — An urban poor organization wants the head of Talisay City local housing office removed over alleged favoritism.

Members of the City of  Talisay Federation of Homeowners Association (CTFEDHOA) yesterday trooped to City Hall to complain before Mayor Eduardo Gullas against local housing office chief Rosalie Autor.

The organization headed by its president Diel Lanzon said Autor was biased in favor of the Federation of Talisay City Urban Dwellers Association (FETCUDA). Lanzon claimed that Autor and the members of the Talisay City Council are giving preference to their rival organization.

Lanzon said that the council approved on January 30 a resolution sponsored by Councilor Raul Cabañero granting accreditation to FETCUDA. He said they also applied for accreditation but their application was not acted upon.

In fact, they filed a complaint before the Office of the Ombudsman against Mayor Alan Bucao and nine councilors for not accrediting their association. Those who were charged before the anti-graft office are Arturo Bas, Socrates Fernandez, Gail Restauro, Manuel Cabriana, Rudolfo Cabigas, Valeriano Ylanan, Richard Francis Aznar, Julian Daan, and Cabañero.

Bucao said the council only observed the right processes in granting accreditation based on Article 64 of the Implementing Rules and Regulations of the Local Government Code which requires at least one year existence of the organization seeking for accreditation.

"Wala mi kahibaw nga dunay requirement nga ingon  ana (at least one year existence) kay nangayo mi sa lista sa requirements wala na. Amo gi-comply tanan. Uwahi na. Pero nganung dunay association nga gi-approve less than one year, naa mi pagpamatuod ana,” Lanzon said.

According to Bucao, FETCUDA was organized in 2007.

Autor denied favoritism. She assured that her office is entertaining all local housing members fairly.

"Ang amo opisina kay equal. Kada naa moanha sa opisina among entertain-non ug amo atubangon ilang concerns. Wala ko kahibaw kung unsa ilang intention basta kami,  fair mi," she said. (FREEMAN)