Radaza: Delayed relocation project beyond my control

CEBU, Philippines - Lapu-Lapu City Mayor Paz Radaza assured that the city government is working on the realization of the 25-hectare socialized housing project in Barangay Canjulao that will serve as resettlement site for residents living in danger zones.

Radaza said the delay of the project is attributed to “reasons beyond her control.” For one, the Department of Environment and Natural Resources is still trying to iron out lot ownership issues with private owners, she said.

She added that there are ongoing meetings for the realization of the socialized housing project.

The issue of the stalled socialized housing project resurfaced after businessman Efrain Pelaez Jr. alleged that Radaza’s administration is unable to attend to the needs of informal settlers.

The businessman, who faced Radaza in the 2010 and 2013 mayoralty elections, recently announced his candidacy for the same position in 2016.

Pelaez claimed that Radaza forgot to include in her recent State of the City Address the situation of the informal settlers in Barangay Canjulao. He said if ever he wins next year, he will build 3,000 homes for these settlers, an idea he has been pointing out since 2010.

“You just have to try me out. I have built eight luxury condominium buildings. If I can build houses for the rich and super rich, unsa nalang para sa mga pobre?” Pelaez said.

Radaza admitted that she promised to carry out the socialized housing project but for her, the project needs to be ironed out carefully before it can be bid out to potential land developers.

“Misaad ko, pero dili man buot pasabot nga molubag gyud ko og maayo nga ako gyud pugson. Of course, in a way nga ang sakto na proseso and all paper works are in order. Kung duna’y problema, dili naman nako control. But still naningkamot ko nga naa lang gihapon ko’y matabang,” Radaza said.

According to earlier reports, around 4,000 medium-rise houses will rise in the 25-hectare lot in Canjulao which is envisioned to solve the squatting problem on government-owned lots in coastal barangays.

The project was floated during the political reign of the former mayor and congressman Arturo Radaza.  (FREEMAN)