Talisay to create own anti-squatting group

CEBU, Philippines – Talisay City will soon have its own anti-squatting team. 

City Councilor Dennis B. Basillote, chairman of the committee on Urban Poor and Rural Development, said the task of the team is to control the proliferation of informal settlers and eradicate professional squatters and squatting syndicates in the City. 

If Basillote’s proposed ordinance is approved, it will be known as the “City of Talisay Squatters Prevention Enforcement Team (CT-SPET).”

“The City Government of Talisay is mandated to protect the property and life of individuals living in danger areas of the city,” the proposed ordinance No. 2012-30-1 read. 

According to Basillote, the main objectives of the CT-SPET will have to control the proliferation of informal settlers in the city and to prevent the increasing number of squatting syndicates.

The team will also facilitate the implementation of the anti-squatting ordinance and to demolish structures in danger areas within the city. 

The mayor, under the composition, will be headed by the city mayor while the members are the city legal office, the chairman of the committee on peace and order, the city police chief, and the city engineering chief.

It will also include the chairman of the Committee on Urban Poor and Rural Development, the City Planning and Development Coordinator, the Presidential Commission for the Urban Poor (PCUP), the Officer-In-Charge of the City of Talisay Local Housing Office, the ABC President, the President of the Federation of NGOs and the President of the Federation of PO’s. 

According to Basillote, the CT-SPET will identify squatters in both private and public lands including those living along roads easements, foreshore areas, riverbanks, and other danger areas.

The team will also initiate the identification of professional squatters and squatting syndicates including public and government officials, private individuals, institutions or companies, supporting, assisting or tolerating the same. 

Furthermore, it will conduct surveillances to check and verify initial intelligence information gathered relative to the identities of suspected professional squatters and squatting syndicates including names of public and government officials, private individuals, supporting, assisting or tolerating the commission of the act. 

It will also initiate investigations on violation cases on demolition and eviction and recommend appropriate actions.  – THE FREEMAN