CEBU, Philippines - Talisay City Local Housing Office head Rosalie Autor said they are conducting a survey to the city's local housing beneficiaries to determine whether they are occupying the units following city regulations.
She said that of the city's 18, 934 registered informal settlers, only 2,218 have been relocated.
"Wala pay available relocation sites ug kinahanglan pang sulbaron ang 16k puhon pinaagi sa tabang ni Mayor Gullas nga mapahiluna ang remaining. Mostly ani nila naa sa mga sapa-sapa nahibutang,'’ she said.
Earlier, Vice Mayor Alan Bucao received reports in his office that there are some who were given housing even if they are not 'deserving,' while those deserving did not get any unit due to irregularities in the process.
Autor states that there have been some cases when a beneficiary owned or lived in a house in another place and rents out the unit they received to other families, and there are also others who receive homes without undergoing the screening process.
While Autor admits to these irregularities, she clarified that these issues did not happen under her watch. She vowed that she will make sure that all applicants will go through the proper process before granting a specific relocation site.
Those who will be caught violating the set terms would be given a notice from the city to leave the house so it can be occupied by other beneficiaries.
Most of the informal settlers are living in coastal areas and near a river specifically in Barangay Tangke. (FREEMAN)