Dumlog lot eyed as relocation site for homeless Talisaynons

CEBU, Philippines - The Talisay City Council has adopted the recommendation of the Local Housing Board to purchase over four hectares of land in Barangay Dumlog to be used as a relocation site for the homeless Talisaynons.

Councilor Doroteo Emit authored a resolution recommending Mayor Johnny De los Reyes to acquire the two parcels of lands as additional housing and relocation sites.

Emit, chairman of the committee of the urban planning and development, said the LHB issued Resolution No. 2014-001 seeking for the approval of the purchase after the owner agreed to sell the properties.

The lots (covered by tax declaration nos. T-90694 and T-5665) as proposed by owner Lalucha Rafols, has an acquisition price of P2,300 per square meter, under the terms of 30-percent down payment and the balance payable within 24-months.

Emit said the LHB sub-committee on infrastructure already inspected and evaluated the property and showed a passing rate of 80 percent.

There are at least 16,000 families in the city who are landless, with some of them informal settlers occupying private or public lots, particularly along the coastal areas and riverbanks, according to the records of the LHB.

"Providing additional shelters and various housing projects is one of the priority program of the present administration for the advancement, the best interest and the general welfare of the homeless Talisaynons," Emit told The Freeman.

The budget for the acquisition of the lots will be taken from the 20-percent development fund of social services, under Item No. 3.1.8: "Purchase and development of land for the relocation of informal settlers and relocation or victims of calamities" of the Annual Investment Plan of the Approved Annual Budget of 2015.

Emit further requested the mayor to sign documents relative to the lots purchase, subject to Commission on Audit rules and regulations. /RAE (FREEMAN)