NHA should provide relocation site--Treñas
The city government has no obligation to provide the displaced residents of Purok Mainuswagon, Brgy. Bolilao, Mandurriao district with relocation site. Thus, said City Mayor Jerry Treñas after the National Housing Authority (NHA) reportedly wanted residents in the area, which was recently hit by fire, evicted.
The lot occupied by the fire victims was already sold to a group of Chinese doctors for P53 million. The site is reportedly reserved for the construction of a new hospital. Bolilao is considered as one of the city's commercial area. A conditional deed of sale was already signed between the NHA and the buyers to pave way for the construction of a hospital in the area.
Trenas' reaction was in the wake of reports that the NHA is pinpointing the responsibility to the city government as the one which is obliged to provide the affected residents with relocation site.
Treñas said, under the law it is the NHA that should provide residents with relocation as they own the property.
The NHA could not just pass the responsibility to the city government, the mayor added.
The affected residents are now in a defensive stance after the NHA wanted them to leave the property. "It is ironic that the National Housing Authority itself would call for the eviction of occupants without relocation," Treñas said.
Meanwhile, residents who can afford to buy the lot expressed their desire to buy the area they are occupying. However, the NHA allegedly play deaf on their requests to buy the lot and stay in the disputed area.