City gov't urged to buy lots for new relocation site
BACOLOD CITY -- Sangguniang Panglungsod Member Al Victor Espino, chairman of the Committee on Appropriation and Finance, is so serious in addressing the housing problem in the city after the group called "Alyansa sang mga Imol sa Bacolod" along with the KAISAHAN group staged a protest seeking a moratorium on the demolition of squatters.
Last SP regular session, Espino requested Mayor Evelio Leonardia to negotiate a loan with any banking institution for the acquisition of a relocation site for informal settlers or squatters.
Earlier, Espino said that "magnitude of the housing problem of the city has grown into such proportions that only a purposeful, determined, organized mass housing development program can meet the needs of city inhabitants and each families for decent dwellings."
Espino further said that the attainment of this resolution is highly dependent on the conservation and rationalization of urban land use as the instrument of urban land reform as well as on our ability to regulate housing, financing and construction costs to bring the reach of the greater number of our people.
He observed that up to this time there exists an acute housing shortage which has remained a persistent problem due to the burgeoning population, the absence of adequate house financing, and increasing construction costs, which place satisfactory housing beyond the reach of the masses.
Earlier, Bacolod Housing Authority head Josephine Segundino confirmed that they gave three months extension for the squatters at Purok Santo Domingo, Brgy. Banago who are facing demolition. Said extension was granted but the residents also seek another moratorium for their transfer if they don't have relocation site. The Landbanking Committee has already recommended 5 areas for the new housing development program.