CH to acquire lot hit by fire

CEBU, Philippines - The Cebu City has been negotiating with the private owner of the fire-stricken area in Barangay Basak-Pardo for the housing program of the city government.

Lawyer Collin Rosell, chief of the Division for the Welfare of Urban Poor, revealed that there has been long negotiation between the city government and Japer Development Corporation on the acquisition of the lot even before the fire that razed hundreds of houses in the barangay last Tuesday.

Because of the fire, Rosell said the city government will pursue the acquisition of the lot for the onsite relocation of the affected families.

“Gi-offer na sa atoa dugay na kay puno na sa tao ang area para pud ma-accommodate nato kining mga tao. Dugay na ang transaction ani,” he said.

Rosell said that DWUP included in its presentation during the budget hearing last year the lot acquisition amounting to P300 million and was already approved by the City Council.

He said that the lot acquisition was supposedly for the Socialized Housing Program of the city government which aims to give lots to the homeless and underprivileged.

 “We will make use of the urgency kay we are still processing sa Social Housing Finance Corporation,” Rosell said.

He added that the city government is still working on the documents since the re-blocking needs higher level of preparation to give titles of the lot to the families affected by the fire.

The whole area will be re-blocked including those that were not affected by the fire, he said.

He explained that this is because the city government is mandated to re-block since the area will be purchased as housing program. Rosell said that DWUP is coordinating with all families living in the area for the re-blocking. He added that no one should be displaced because of fire.

“Kun naay family nga wala na-affected sa fire nga dili mosugot atong i-reblock kay atong pasabton lang gyud kay tabang mani sa gobiyerno nga mailaha ang yuta,” he said, adding that the re-blocking is one of the solutions to provide roads for emergencies such as fire.

The fire fighters had difficulties in penetrating the fire scene because of the narrow roads. (FREEMAN)