Iloilo City LGU acts vs “squatting” syndicates

CEBU, Philippines - The Iloilo City’s Urban Poor Affairs Office has implemented measures against syndicates behind illegal settlers or the so-called professional squatters at the city’s relocation sites.

ICUPAO chief Wilfredo Jurilla said validation of relocation applicants and existing informal settlers has been carried out in the government lots, including regular visitation of the site to restrict illegal settlers.

The city has already withdrawn 21 lots from lot awardees in previous years when found out that they were no longer occupying the lots for almost a year while other lots were already occupied by several unauthorized persons.

Jurilla hoped that illegal occupation will be stopped once Icupao chairman and City Councilor Joshua Alim could file for approval an ordinance penalizing violators behind this squatting syndicate.

Junilla also wanted to penalize barangay officials who tolerated illegal settlers to temporarily occupy those government-owned properties within their areas of responsibility.

The city government owns 29 relocation sites covering less than 50 hectares Twenty-two of these were dubbed “off-sites” or those acquired for those to be relocated, while the rest were ‘on-sites” or those with existing row houses converted into relocation areas for existing occupants.

There are now at least 5,000 illegal settlers who availed themselves of the accommodation under the city’s socialized program, while around 10,000 informal settlers are soon to be relocated under the national and local government-funded projects. (FREEMAN)