Housing tops Mike’s priorities in 2015

Cebu City Mayor Michael Rama wants the city to focus on implementing housing projects and programs next year.

Several housing programs were included in the city’s approved P13.4 billion budget for 2015.

“I will be sitting down with Alvin Dizon (who chairs the housing committee).  I want that before my term ends, lot titles will already be given to them,” Rama told reporters yesterday.

He said the city’s Slum Improvement and Rehabilitation (SIR) program hasn’t been given much attention. Several occupants of the SIR lots have yet to get their titles.

Rama added that he appreciates Dizon’s efforts in defending the housing programs and projects during the budget deliberation.

The mayor also ordered lawyer Jade Ponce to come up with an “exhaustive case presentation” before the second week of January on the different housing sites, including the city-owned lot in barangay Pulpogan, Consolacion and other areas with Ordinance 93-1 beneficiaries.

“I want that before my term ends, we will shorten the gap between the rich and poor and expanding the space for the middle class and without restricting the rich to become richer,” Rama added.

The approved budget contains P400 million for lot acquisition of 93-1 properties, P250 million for land improvements and site developments, P300 million for lot acquisition for socialized housing and P20 million for lot acquisition for the city’s Community Mortgage Program.

Ponce, who heads the city’s Land Management Council (LMC), said they want to have a “paradigm shift” in terms of issuing lot titles to the city’s residents.

They don’t want to be “too bureaucratic” about issuing the lot titles, he said, and those who have yet to pay their lots in full can still get titles with annotations on their balance.

“Our point is if you’re secured by a title on your lot, then you will be confident with improving your area and in paying your remaining balance,” Ponce said.

Ponce said they will also make sure that the Malacañang sa Sugbo won’t be converted into a berthing space as it was lobbied by the Cebu Ports Authority (CPA).

He told reporters that they have applied for a title on the lot in favor of the city with the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR).

They are also in talks with the city’s zoning board to declare the area as a no-build zone with emphasis of retaining the cultural and heritage value of the building.

“Regardless if the area is titled to the city or not, the local government unit still has a say in the administration of its properties,” Ponce said.

Ponce said it’s impractical to convert the area into a container yard since there are other areas like the North Reclamation and Mandaue Reclamation that can be considered for this purpose.