Ormoc City LGU to purchase lots for relocation of Yolanda survivors

CEBU, Philippines - The Ormoc City Council unanimously approved a resolution to purchase two lots for resettlement sites of thousand of homeless Yolanda survivors who are now living temporarily at "no-build zones" in the city.

The resolution also authorized City Mayor Edward Codilla to sign the deed of absolute sale for lot no. 7917-A, which has an area of 21,745 square meters, and lot no. 7917-C (21,746 sq.ms), both at Barangay Cagbuhangin, about 11 kilometers from the city center.

Resolution 2015-139, approved on July 16, mandates the purchase of the two lots, covered by transfer certificate of title 46536 of owner Gabriel Asis, at a price of P50 per square meter.

The city is expected to pay P2,174,550 next week, with the money, as certified by the Office of the City Treasurer, to be sourced from the trust fund of the Megastorm/Haiyan (Yolanda), which can be “utilized for the acquisition of the aforementioned lots."

The trust fund consisted of donations from various sectors, both local and international, after the November 8, 2013 Yolanda disaster.

Codilla sent to the Council an endorsement letter on June 18 and another communication on July 1 urging the legislative body to act immediately on the acquisition of the two lots for the city government's resettlement sites for Yolanda survivors here. (FREEMAN)