Mandaue accredits 16 informal settlers

CEBU, Philippines - The Mandaue City Housing and Urban Development Office (HUDO) has accredited 16 homeowners in the city, a step necessary to qualifying them to the relocation project in barangay Paknaan.

Mandaue City Mayor Jonas Cortes said the project will help informal settlers occupying areas near creeks live in decent homes.

"Nakita nato nga dako kaayo og kasulbaran sa problema nato ngadto sa mga kaigsoonan nga nagpuyo daplin sa kasapaan," said Mayor Cortes.

The Mandaue City government and the owner of the 6.5 hectare lot in barangay Paknaan are scheduled to sign the argreement this month.

HUDO chief Emmanuel Arong said informal settlers in Banilad have already been organized and those in sitio Oril in the same barangay are almost done.

HUDO identified some 400 households in Banilad residing along Mahiga Creek.

On the other hand, HUDO personnel assisted by the Presidential Commission for the Urban Poor (PCUP) are also concentrating in sitio Sapa-Sapa I and II in barangay Subangdaku for the formation of their organizations.

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 tapping the assistance of Non-Government Organizations (NGOs) like the Philippine Action for Community-led Shelter Initiative Inc. (PACSI).

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 directed HUDO to scout the possibility of utilizing 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)