SIR beneficiaries granted 10 yrs extension to pay

CEBU, Philippines - The Cebu City Local Housing Board has rejected the petition of the beneficiaries of the Slum Improvement Resettlement program in Alaska, Mambaling asking for a 20-year extension to pay their obligation to the government.

The board however recommended that the almost 2,000 families currently occupying the 13.3-hectare SIR zone be granted 10 years to pay before they can be ejected.

Floro Enricoso, vice president of the Alagad nga Lumolopyo Alang sa Kalambu-an Federation (Alaska-Fed), said that the board did not only dismiss their plea for 20 years extension but has also rejected their request for a 100 percent increase without interest.

The board instead recommended for 100 percent increase and six percent interest per annum.

Enricoso however said they will ask the assistance of Councilor Alvin Dizon, who heads the committee on housing, because the board’s decision is not yet final. They are hoping that Dizon will help them considering that the councilor is a known advocate for the rights of the urban poor.

Members of the Alaska-Fed are set to meet Dizon on Wednesday to insist on their request for a 20-year extension and a 100 percent increase without interest.

 They will also petition Dizon to create an ordinance which may serve as the contract should the city grant their request.

“Dili man gud gyud namo makaya ang 10 years. Naglisod naman gani ang kasagaran sa amoa pagbayad sa monthly amortization, kung 10 years ra ang ihatag sa amoa, after that, possible na sad nga mubalik na sad mi sa pagka-delinquent kay dili lagi makaya,” Enricoso said.

A hundred percent increase would mean that the monthly amortization of residents will reach P124 per square meter for lots along the road and P114 per square meter for interior lots.

It will cost more for those who are living there now but were not original beneficiaries.

“If dili gyud pwede na wala’y interest, muhatag mi nila og lain na sad nga computation. Willing ra gyud mi mo-settle sa among account,” he said.

The SIR program was implemented in 1981 under the Presidential Decree 2016 issued in 1976 by then President Ferdinand Marcos.

The original contract where original beneficiaries were given 25 years to pay has already expired last December 2009.

Also last year, before the contract expired, councilor Ritchie Osmeña passed a resolution to the council for a six-month extension that ran from January to June 30 this year. The extension was provided to the residents to give time for the processing of their request.  – THE FREEMAN