Disputable titles delay awarding of certificates

CEBU, Philippines - The awarding of individual titles to qualified beneficiaries of socialized housing projects in Talisay City has been delayed due to disputable titles and lack of certain supporting documents. 

The Commission on Audit (COA) said there was unjustifiable delay in the transfer of ownership of fully paid lots to the city particularly the 14 lots for socialized housing projects. 

The city bought the properties for P61.5 million but these have to be awarded yet to qualified beneficiaries.

According to the COA, the city could have already received the return on investment from the lots had there been no delay in the processing of requirements of projects taken out by the Social Housing Finance Corporation. 

Of the 22 lots acquired for socialized housing, only four were transferred to the city.

Only four lots were not fully paid and only one was taken out by the Socialized Housing Finance Corporation, resulting in 14 lots. 

“The 14 lots valued at P61.5 million have not been transferred yet in the name of this City due to problems found in the supporting documents, among others,” the COA report read. 

The COA said if the documents were complete, the full amount of acquisition cost would have been paid by the corporation and the beneficiaries would have already received their respective titles. 

Also, the city could have already received and earned the return of investment for the lot acquisitions and qualified awarded beneficiaries could have already received their respective titles. 

The COA already reminded the city government that there should be proper planning on lot acquisitions so that the intended projects would be implemented within the reasonable time. (FREEMAN)