Relocation ‘under LGU discretion’

By Elias O. Baquero and Rebelander S. Basilan

Friday, February 18, 2011

THE Housing and Urban Development Coordinating Council (HUDCC) yesterday said local government units (LGUs) are mandated by Republic Act 7279, also known as the Urban Development and Housing Act (Udha) of 1992,to provide relocation sites to squatters affected by demolitions.

However, HUDCC Undersecretary Cecilia Alba clarified that the law only applies to those who became informal settlers not later than 1992. Otherwise, informal settlers will have to rely on the discretion of the LGUs on whether they will be provided with relocation, she said.

Udha was signed into law by then president Corazon C. Aquino in the last year of her term. President Benigno “Noynoy” Aquino III, her son, wants to fully implement it.

In Mandaue City, Mayor Jonas Cortes ordered the demolition of 18 illegal structures along the Centro Creek in Barangay Centro. The City Housing and Urban Development Office (Udho), though, will first identify who among the affected families are “professional squatters.”

City Legal Officer Giovanni Tianero said the law defines “professional squatters” as informal settlers who accept financial assistance from the government to relocate, but continue to set up illegal structures.

Their houses can be demolished even without financial assistance and a relocation
site, said Tianero in a press conference yesterday.

Proposed relocation site

Mandaue City Udho officer-in-charge Emmanuel Arong said the demolition will be carried out next week.

“Those who are not `professional squatters’ will not face demolition, pending the availability of financial assistance and relocation site. Because we have to follow the law,” said Tianero.

One of the proposed relocation sites for families affected by the demolitions is a 6.5-hectare lot in Barangay Paknaan, Mandaue City. The lot, valued at P4,000 per square meter, can accommodate 1,200 families.

One arrangement being considered by the City Government is to give financial assistance to informal settlers upon demolition for their mortgage payment of the lot.

He clarified that the relocated families, not the City, will purchase the lots. This, he said, is meant to teach them how to become responsible.

The arrangement, however, has yet to be finalized, he said.

Cortes also urged the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) to take the lead in solving drainage problems, saying elected officials are constrained by term limits.

“We tend to forget there are government agencies whose mandate is to establish drainage system. That’s part and parcel of the mandate of DPWH,” he said.

Also yesterday, the Pabahay Caravan was launched at the Radisson Blu Hotel in Cebu City.

Binay’s message

HUDCC chairperson Vice President Jejomar Binay, in a message read by Undersecretary Alba, said that under Udha, LGUs are mandated to deliver quality homes to their constituents.

“Our role in HUDCC is to enable them (LGUs) to provide these services by orienting
them on our housing programs and training them to facilitate the implementation of such projects in their areas,” he said.

Alba said they are happy Cebu LGUs, headed by Gov. Gwen Garcia, is receptive to the Pabahay Caravan.

Garcia and mayors in Central Visayas, who attended the launching, discussed resettlement assistance, local community mortgage and housing loans.

Binay also ordered the Housing and Land Use Regulatory Board 7 to talk about how comprehensive land use planning can help LGUs ensure rational, ecologically-balanced and sustainable development of resources and growth of human settlements.

“By making the LGUs aware of our housing programs and services, we will be able to
encourage them to work together with the national government in accelerating shelter production and enhancing the delivery of housing services to the people,” he said.

Published in the Sun.Star Cebu newspaper on February 18, 2011.