A Quezon City councilor is battling for the turnover of a one-hectare area in Barangay Bagong Silangan to the squatter families occupying the area following the approval of Ordinance SP-3006 on March 15.
District 2 Councilor Mikey Belmonte introduced the measure declaring a 10,766-square-meter lot in Sitio Kumunoy as a socialized housing site that would be given to qualified squatters living in the area under the direct sale program.
“One priority of the Quezon City government is to provide affordable and decent housing that is still within the city to thousands of informal settler families. We’re expanding the number of communities under our socialized housing project to accommodate more residents who live here with their families and who work here,” he said.
The private property was forfeited through an auction sale in favor of the city government and will now be subjected to staff work by the executive branch, particularly the Housing Community Development and Resettlement Department.
Under the direct sale program, the HCDRD will plan and develop the site, orient prospective beneficiaries, select those who are qualified and help them process loans to pay for their respective lots.
“The city would guide them through every step of the way to ensure that they can secure their individual titles upon payment,” Belmonte said.
“We hope to do the same for other ISFs in the city through programs that are favorable to all stakeholders: residents, property owners and the city government. After all, security in housing is part of the city’s mandate to pave the way for inclusive growth,” he said. Rio N. Araja
