1st reading Talisay housing ordinance approved

CEBU, Philippines - The Talisay City Council has approved on first reading the Local Housing Institutionalization Ordinance to ensure the continuity of its programs, better implementation of its strategies and quality delivery of its mandate.

City Councilor Doroteo S. Emit, who is the chairman of the committee on Urban Housing and Development, said the purpose of the ordinance is to ensure the continuity of the national programs related and necessary for the housing and urban development, as well as for better implementation of national strategies and sustainability of the delivery of this basic service in the City or LGU level.

Under RA 7835, which is otherwise known as the Comprehensive and Integrated Shelter Finance Act of 1994 or CISFA, the state mandates LGUs to establish a working Local Housing Board, as well as the development of local housing programs.

Under the Local Government Code of 1992, LGUs have to provide the basic services and facilities to include programs and projects for low cost housing and mass dwellings.

"Since its inception in 1999 as the implementing arm of the Talisay Local Housing Board, the ad hoc Local Housing Office with its interim staff, was never institutionalized and up until this date, the ad hoc Local Housing Office is headed by a regular employee whose plantilla is not organic to this office," Emit said. 

Emit said based on the public welfare provisions of RA 7160, there is a need for the city to come up with its Local Housing Board to confront the challenge posed by the demolition and eviction of its urban poor dwellers, informal settlers and under-privileged people.  (FREEMAN)