Mandaue relocation site speed up compliance, beneficiaries advised

CEBU, Philippines – The Mandaue City government is helping beneficiaries of the 6.5-hectare relocation site in Barangay Paknaan to comply with all requirements of the Social Housing and Finance Corporation so that its former lot owner can be fully paid.

Housing and Urban Development Office chief Tonypet Juanico said the city government, being the "mobilizer" between the beneficiaries and the lot owner, will now help the community to fast-track the submission of the requirements so that the SHFC can finally release the remaining balance of P48 million which beneficiaries owe Dennis Lua, the former owner of the 6.5-hectare lot.

"Ato na rong gitabangan ang mga beneficiaries aron mapaspasan ang paghikay sa requirements kay maikog na sad si Mayor Jonas Cortes ni Mr. Lua kay ang nasabotan nga mabayran gyud siya sa iyang yuta sud sa duha ka tuig and its almost two years now," Juanico said.

("We are now helping beneficiaries speed up the processing of requirements. Mayor Jonas Cortes feels a bit off for Mr. Lua since the agreement was to pay the latter within two years, and it's now almost two years.")

The relocation site was priced at P98 million, however, the 1,200 beneficiaries made an initial down payment of P20 million to Lua after they received P17,220 each as financial aid from the city.

Through the help of the city government, beneficiaries loaned the remaining P96 million from SHFC. Last May 18, Vice President Jejomar Binay personally brought P44 million check to the beneficiaries so that they can pay Lua half of the said lot's price.

According to Juanico, another P4 million will be released soon. The amount was temporarily put on hold by the SHFC since one of the presidents of the 12 organizations, which are beneficiaries of the lot, were "over-aged."

With this, Juanico is now urging all the 12 presidents of the different associations to fully comply with all the requirements so he can fly to Manila and meet with SHFC and Habitat for Humanity officials.

This is also for release of the P48 million that Lua can finally receive in full payment for the lot he sold to the community.

The beneficiaries of the relocation site in Barangay Paknaan are residents who were formerly living in the city's danger and easement zones.