'Stop work of squatting syndicates'

MANILA, Philippines - Mayors have been directed to intensify their efforts to stop the activities of professional informal settlers in their respective localities, Interior and Local Government Secretary Jesse Robredo said yesterday.

Robredo said the mayors should create local committees against squatting syndicates and professional informal settlers.

“The government is very serious in addressing the problem (on squatting), and it needs the active participation of local government units through the creation of (these) committees,” Robredo said in a directive he issued to all city and municipal mayors, including those in the Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao.

Robredo said professional informal settlers and squatting syndicates have proliferated not only in the urban areas but in rural areas as well.  

Through their respective committees, Robredo said the mayors must adopt necessary steps to identify and effectively curtail the activities of these syndicates.

The mayors must also identify public officials, private individuals or entities suspected of abetting or tolerating squatting, Robredo said.

He said the committees must also provide legal help to victims of professional informal settlers and squatting syndicates; investigate cases of violation of laws or rules on eviction and demolition; and monitor eviction and demolition activities.

The committees will serve as the operating arm of the National Drive Against Professional Squatters and Squatting Syndicates at the local level, he said.