Firmeza confirms resettlement sites laden with irregularities
Firmeza
The awarding of home lots in the city's different resettlement projects is indeed laden with irregularities. This was confirmed by no less than Iloilo City Urban Poor Affairs Office (Icupao) chief Roy Firmeza in last Wednesday's session of the Sangguniang Panglungsod.
Firmeza admitted before the body that "he could not guarantee" that all the beneficiaries occupying home lots in the different resettlement projects are qualified. "I could not guarantee. I can only guarantee during my time. From 2001 forward I can guarantee," said Firmeza.
The council required Firmeza's appearance on the basis of their resolution asking the Icupao chief to submit the master list of beneficiaries and their supporting documents. Firmeza's appearance was also sought to shed light on the allegations of Councilor Antonio Pesina, chair of the committee on urban poor, human rights and minority, that he tried to bribe the councilor.
Earlier, the council also passed a resolution requiring the Icupao to apply for a subdivision plan. The subdivision plan is one of the requirements in conducting a geodetic survey in determining the boundaries of the home lots.
Firmeza said prior to his assumption as Icupao head, the awarding of home lots to beneficiaries is already overloaded with problems. The first screening of the applicants for socialized housing project was not imposed, said Firmeza.
Firmeza even hit back at Councilor Pesina by saying, for four years the registration of beneficiaries for socialized housing project was not given action. The registration should have been made every three years. "It is even half of your height," he said.
The Icupao was headed by Atty. Jose Daduros before Firmeza was appointed by Mayor Jerry Treñas to head the urban poor office. He did not specify on what relocation site or on-site development projects have questionable beneficiaries. Daduros was appointed as Icupao chief during the time of former Mayor Mansueto Malabor.
Firmeza, however, did not blame the previous Icupao head for the unresolved issues regarding the awarding of home lots to relocation site beneficiaries. "We should not correct another wrong by committing another wrong action," he stressed.
Firmeza recommended before the legislative body to implement the repayment scheme in giving solutions to the problem. The repayment scheme will determine the qualified and non-qualified beneficiaries. Beneficiaries who are not qualified of the government project but were awarded of home lots should pay the cost of the lot based on the price set by the City Appraisal Committee. "This will give them (non-qualified beneficiaries) good lesson," he said.
"The repayment scheme will answer all the queries of the council on who among the beneficiaries are qualified or not. I don't want to blame anyone. The repayment scheme will produce something if given attention," Firmeza stressed.
In 2007, ICUPAO presented a repayment scheme before the committee on urban poor on three relocation sites namely San Isidro, Lapaz, Bito-on New Site, Jaro and South Fundidor, Molo.
The city government purchased the San Isidro property for P2,436,700; Bitoon New Site for P2,850,000 and South Fundidor for P5,290,000.
In the repayment scheme designed by ICUPAO, the occupants in the San Isidro site that has a home lot of 60 square meters has to pay the city government an amortization of P135 per month for 120 months. For those with 80 square meters home lots, an amortization of P179 for 120 months or 10 years is suggested.
In Bitoon New Site occupants with 60 square meters of home lot have a monthly amortization of P247 and P329 for occupants with 80 square meters. The payment term is also 120 months.
On the other hand, occupants in South Fundidor relocation site who availed of 48 square meters of home lot will have a monthly amortization of P234 and P340 for those who have 70 square meters of home lot.
During the session, Firmeza also denied the bribery attempt alleged by Councilor Pesina in hastening the sale of the property of Rogelio Tarrosa in Barangay Lanit, Jaro. The proposal to purchase the property passed through the proper channels. The councilor claimed Firmeza offered him P50,000.
It was also learned that Councilor has notarized the sale of a property in San Isidro. The qualified beneficiary it to P120,000. The councilor said he was not a councilor at the time the transaction was committed and he could not refused the client being a lawyer.