For relocation site: Codilla gives 50-hectare lot under usufruct arrangement

ORMOC CITY, Philippines — Mayor Edward Codilla and his wife Violeta will no longer donate their 50-hectare lot in Barangay Curva for a relocation site of the city's Yolanda survivors, as reported previously, but have opted for a "usufructuary arrangement" with the Buddhist Tzu Chi Foundation, which will be developing it.

Alfredo Li, CEO of Tzu Chi Foundation-Philippines, explained the arrangement to Vice Mayor Toto Locsin Jr. and the City Council during the latter's pre-session caucus last July 10.

Li told the City Council he believed the usufruct arrangement was okay because it would help protect the interventions Tzu Chi will be putting up at the proposed relocation area, citing past experiences where beneficiaries sold their rights to other parties.  "I believe the owner of the land would like to see that it is not abused," he said.

Under a usufruct arrangement, the beneficiaries could not sell their shares because they do not own the land, although they have the right to stay in the property for generations to come, said Li.

Li said the usufruct arrangement, in the Codilla property, will be for 50 years and, if everything goes well, is extendible by another 25 years.

Tzu Chi will be putting up 2,000 houses in the area, complete with amenities and facilities that a small community needs. There would be schools, a sports area, park and even a chapel, he said. 

The mayor's wife Violeta, accompanied Li and two other Tzu Chi representatives during the meeting with the City Council, where Li asked Locsin and the councilors for their support to the relocation project.

Councilor Vincent Rama, for his part, told Tzu Chi officials that their project has the Council's "100 percent support." (FREEMAN)