900 families get lot certificates

The Cebu City government distributed certificates of lot allotment (CLA) to more than 900 urban poor families as part of the activities lined up for the Urban Poor Solidarity Week.

But Danilo Gabiana, head of the Division for the Welfare of Urban Poor under the Office of the Mayor, said the distribution of the CLA does not mean that the lots are already owned by the beneficiaries.

Gabiana explained that the CLA only means that the particular lots have been assigned already to the respective individuals for them to start paying their monthly amortization to the city.

He warned the lot beneficiaries, members of seven urban poor associations in Lahug and neighboring barangays not to sell their rights of the property unless they already paid the whole amount.

The granting of CLA to urban poor beneficiaries yesterday brought to more than 43,000 families that availed of the city’s low-cost housing lots.

Gabiana said only 40 percent of the beneficiaries have been religious in paying their monthly obligation to the city.

“Human ninyo madawat kining mga certificates of lot allocations, hinumdumi baya ninyo nga duna pa kamo’y obligasyon,” said acting Mayor Michael Rama.

Gabiana, however, said their collections from the urban poor beneficiaries had increased this year compared to 2006 when only P1 million was collected every month. — Rene U. Borromeo/LPM (THE FREEMAN)