Housing office in Mandaue help squatters form groups

CEBU, Philippines - The Housing and Urban Development Office (HUDO) in Mandaue City has classified xx 2,360 people as informal settlers living in danger zones in the city, the first step the office has taken in preparation for the settlers' relocation.

HUDO chief Emmanuel Arong work in this connection is being done in Philcadan and in sitio Oril, both located in barangay Banilad.

HUDO said some 400 households in Banilad reside along Mahiga Creek.

On the other hand, HUDO, assisted by the Presidential Commission for the Urban Poor (PCUP), is also focused on sitio Sapa-Sapa I and II in barangay Subangdaku to help the settlers organize.

Other informal dwellers in Subangdaku are already organized and are planning to come up with their own relocation plan.

The Mahiga Riverside Neighborhood Association (MARNA) for its part is turning to non-government organizations such as the Philippine Action for Community-led Shelter Initiative Inc. (PACSI) for assistance.

The organization is implementing a saving program as equity for land and housing soft loan undertaken by PACSI.

"Our action is part of the process of preparing the beneficiaries for the 6.5-hectare relocation site in barangay Paknaan," Arong said.

Based on the accreditation by HUDO, the Housing Land Use and Regulatory Board (HLURB) will then accredit the organization as required.

Arong said these are the basic requirements before one can avail of the Community Mortgage Program (CMP), a soft loan program of Social Home Mortgage Finance Corporation (SHMFC).

Under this program, the city government of Mandaue acts as originator or guarantor.

Mayor Jonas Cortes has directed HUDO to find out whether it is possible to utilize the supposed financial assistance to the beneficiaries as down payment to SHMFC. 

Section 28 of the Republic Act 7279 or the Urban Development and Housing Act provides that urban dwellers residing in danger areas may be evicted and are entitled to an adequate relocation or financial assistance equivalent to 60 days multiplied by the prevailing minimum wage. — (FREEMAN)