Talisay City Council wants housing role

CEBU, Philippines - Talisay City Vice Mayor Alan Bucao wants the City Council to take part in the screening process of applicants to the city government's housing program.

Bucao said the selection of beneficiaries at present is only up to Mayor Eduardo Gullas and the members of the Local Housing Board (LHB). The vice mayor said he received reports that some beneficiaries have sold their property while other qualified beneficiaries were deprived of the program.

"It turned out nga katong mga nagkinahanglan kay wala nahatagan," Bucao said.

Bucao wants Councilors Rodi Cabigas and Richard Francis Aznar to represent the City Council in the LHB. According to Bucao, strict guidelines and proper qualifications of beneficiaries should be observed.

Councilor Doroteo Emit, chairman of the committee on housing, urban poor and rural development, introduced a resolution amending the composition of the LHB. The mayor was designated as chairman with four councilors-Emit, Cabigas, Aznar, and Raul Cabañero – as members.

Emit said they will clean the list of applicants to insure that all beneficiaries are deserving.

"Mag-start ta og mapping, gikan sa membership ato na gyud i-filter, i-screen nga kaning programa sa gobyerno sa informal settlers ma-deliver didto  sa mga landless, sakto man ang concerns ni vice (strict guidelines and proper qualifications to screen the applicants) we will focus on that," Emit said.

He said that sometimes the problem lies in the leader of the urban poor organizations.

"Ang maayo unta ana kung ikaw president sa usa ka association sa urban poor, landless gyud ka so you can feel kung unsay need sa mga miyembro," Emit said.

The LHB will convene this month to start the screening of applicants. (FREEMAN)