Pagtambayayong beneficiaries deny claim of DWUP chief

CEBU, Philippines - Residents of Sitio Naba in Barangay Mambaling yesterday denied having complaints against Pagtambayayong Foundation Incorporated, which built their houses for free in 2009.

The residents belied a news report attributed to Division for the Welfare of the Urban Poor Chief Collin Rosell saying that they have complained of structural defects in their houses.

Rosell was quoted in the report to have said that the complaints may be a ground for the city to file a case against the foundation.

Almost a hundred residents yesterday trooped to the Pagtambayayong office to deny that they made such complaints and to express their support to the organization.

Carlito Ybañez, president of the New Alaska Mambaling Beach Association, said that none of them went to DWUP to complain and that they have not even seen Rosell in their area.

Pagtambayayong built over 150 starter house in the area at no cost to the residents. The starter house composes of the two side walls and the roof which occupants have to complete.

Pagtambayayong president Francisco “Bimbo” Fernandez said that they helped the residents after their houses were destroyed by fire in January 2009.

It was Mayor Michael Rama, who was then acting mayor, who requested the foundation to help the fire victims.

Fernandez said that after they built the starter houses, they have not even received a simple ‘thank you’ from the Rama.

Pagtambayayong engineers said that there could be no structural defects as far as the initial structure built by their group because they made sure the works were efficiently done.

Fernandez said it was also not their duty to secure the building permit because they were merely tapped for the project. He also said that urban poor could not afford to apply for the permit at the time.

But the residents have started to apply for it because it is one of the requirements for an electricity line. — (FREEMAN)