Conversion of agri lands stalls housing program

ILOILO CITY, Philippines  — Vice President Jejomar Binay said the implementation of the government housing program in Western Visayas faces one problem: Conversion of agricultural lands into residential sites.

The region is the top producer of sugarcane and number two in rice production, and more than half or about 1.3 million hectares of its total land area of 2 million hectares is agricultural land, the owners of which have opposed to any conversion lest this would affect their business.

As such, Binay, as chairman of the Housing and Land Use Regulatory Board, urged the officials of local government units to update their comprehensive land use plans (CLUPs) and coordinate with the HLURB to determine what areas in their jurisdiction can be converted into housing sites.

"You should include in your CLUPs the lands reserved for housing," said Binay while explaining that CLUP was very important to guide local officials on the use of lands in their areas for agricultural, industrial, housing or residential.

Binay also lauded the LGUs in Region 6 for being active in updating their respective CLUPs. Of the more than 300 LGUs, only two have yet to have their own CLUPs, while 102 of these were in the process of updating theirs.

LGUs shall lead in the implementation of the government's housing programs, with the help of the private sector, Binay also said.

Being the number three among regions with the fastest growing economies, Binay was optimistic Region 6 can successfully carry out its projects and housing programs for the people.

Binay said at least P20 billion was allocated as annual investment for the projects in the region and he hoped that the 220,000 gap in housing units can be resolved.

The first leg of the national government's housing caravan ended in Iloilo Tuesday when Binay led the groundbreaking of a housing project in Sta. Barbara, Iloilo.

He further led in the ceremonial awarding of checks to five landowners whose properties were sold to five community associations, and the signing of the memorandum of agreement with 10 LGUs under the Group Housing Loan Program for government employees.  (FREEMAN)