Free power for relocation sites ends June 30

ILOILO CITY, Philippines – “No more extension.” This was the strong statement of City Mayor Jed Patrick Mabilog as he confirmed that occupants of Uswag relocation site at Brgy. San Isidro in Jaro district of this city have only until June 30 (Sunday) to enjoy the free power supply from the city government.

Mabilog advised “relocatees” to secure their own electrical connections from the Panay Electric Company (PECO) before the deadline ends.

The mayor admitted that the city government has been paying between P1.5 million and P2 million per month for the electricity consumption of Uswag relocation site and other city government offices apart from the more than P8 million electrical bills of the newly-constructed City Hall, street lights and public schools, among others.

IIoilo City Urban Poor Affairs Office (ICUPAO) chief Wilfredo Jurilla confirmed also that close to 1,500 people have been occupying the relocation site, including those housing unit beneficiaries of Gawad Kalinga, Italian-funded housing project, PECO, Homeless People Organization and other five housing sponsors.

Jurilla said most of these “relocatees” do not have electrical connections for more than four years already. “We have been so good to consider their situation before but now it’s time for them to have their own connections just like those in other sites in the city so that the government can save more fund for electricity,” he added.

The city government is currently maintaining 29 relocation sites composed of 22 “off sites” and seven “on sites.”

The “off site” category refers to properties bought by the city government for the purpose of relocating informal settlers. These sites are at Brgy. Sooc in Arevalo district; Brgys. Lanit, San Isidro and Buntatala in Jaro district; and San Isidro in La Paz district.

The “on sites” are places where there are existing row houses that were converted into relocation areas, such as the villages of San Juan, East Timawa, East Baluarte and South Fundador in Molo district, and Brgy. Santo Nino Sur in Arevalo district. (FREEMAN)