SP junks request of urban poor association for expropriation proceedings
The Sangguniang Panlungsod has turned down the request of the Balasbas & Cristina Urban Poor Association Inc. to initiate expropriation proceedings in the 6,264 square meters of lot they are presently occupying.
In last Wednesday's regular session, Majority Floor Leader Eduardo Peñaredondo informed the residents that under the Local Government Code, it is only the chief executive who can initiate expropriation proceedings and not the City Council.
Peñaredondo added that before the mayor can take steps towards the expropriation proceedings, he should first make an offer to the owners. The mayor can only initiate the expropriation proceedings if no agreement is made between him and the owner.
The Gustilo Brothers Corporation owns the property lot where the houses of 105 families stand. The property is covered by two land titles is located at Barangay Simon Ledesma and Barangay Ma. Cristina in Jaro.
One of the land titles covers an area of 1,374 square meters while the other land title covers the area of 4,890 square meters. A court order was already issued by the Branch 3 of the Iloilo Regional Trial Court evicting the occupants.
In the initial talk between the corporation and the affected families, the corporation sells the property to the present occupants to P6,000 per square meter. The selling price is like those offered in big subdivisions in the city. The zonal valuation of the property is reportedly P1,200.
With the high price being offered by the corporation, Peñaredondo presented two options to the affected families, one is to avail of the Community Mortgage Program (CMP) under Vice President Noli De Castro and to transfer and instead buy the available lot near the city's relocation site for families affected by the Iloilo Flood Control Project in Brgy. Lanit, Jaro. The property is owned by Marilyn Mirasol.
The affected families trooped to the city council and sought help in order to address their problem. The group was led by their association president Catalina Garganta.
Peñaredondo assured the residents that he will give them the contact number of three "initiators" belonging to a non-government organization which is already made a name in transacting business with the Office of the Vice President.
He said the group will be the one to process the requirements for the families to avail the CMP. In return, the group will receive a 1.5 percent commission from the CMP for processing their application and for the approval of the loan.
Under the CMP, the government will pay the total price of the property lot. The recipients will pay the loan for 25 years. The amortization is affordable, he said.
For the Mirasol property, Peñaredondo said the association can buy the lot for a much lesser price. The property could be bought for P350 per square meter, a price lower to the purchased price of the city government.
The association does not have to pay for the capital gain stocks unlike the city government. The unsold Mirasol property is near the flood control relocation site and they could avail some of the developments to be implemented in the area. The government has allocated some P170 million for the development of the site including the construction of a P40 million bridge under the Tulay ng Pangulo project, said Peñaredondo.