Property swap for rejected Tanza fishpond?

The owners of the controversial fishpond property in Tanza, Navotas, intended by the Malabon City government as resettlement site for raildwellers displaced by the North Luzon railway modernization are allegedly trying to "swap" the land with other properties they own in Malabon.

This developed after the site was rejected by housing officials over the weekend for various reasons.

Clarita Eneria, president of Kapit Kamay sa Potrero, an organization of raildwellers in that barangay, told The STAR that city officials, whom she asked not to be named for the time being, have been talking to them about a plan by Mario Siochi, owner of the still waterbound 12.5-hectare property in Tanza, to offer his other property in Panghulo, Malabon instead.

She said she had sought a meeting with other officials, including City Mayor Amado Vicencio, who is now in trouble for the alleged anomalous purchase of the Tanza property, "for proper directions." As of now, she said, the people are confused.

"Gusto naming kausapin kami ng matino. Alam nyo naman kapag pulitiko ang nagsasalita, lahat ipinapangako. Gusto naming "on the record" ang usapan para walang denial pagdating ng oras," Eneria told The STAR.

Eneria said they were initially told that Vicencio was already out of the transaction. The whole relocation issue is, allegedly, now in the hands of Housing and Urban Development Coordinating Council (HUDCC) chairman Secretary Michael Defensor and property owner Siochi.

Last Friday, the National Housing Authority (NHA) said Tanzaville (in Navotas) "will no longer be used (as relocation site)."

Early last month, North Luzon Railways Corp. (NLRC), railway developer, director Jerry Pelayo revealed that the NLRC board has rejected the same property as resettlement site because it remains under water and plagued with legal impediments, not to say of unofficial opposition by Navotas local government officials. The Malabon City government has initially plunked down a P12.5-million down payment for the Tanza property pegged at around P88 million as full purchase price. It was not clear yet how the amount would be paid back, if ever, now that the Tanza deal is off.