Benhur: Support sponsorship plan

CEBU, Philippines - Cebu 4th district Rep. Benhur Salimbangon is appealing to the public to support his "Adopt-a-Family Program" aimed at helping typhoon Yolanda victims rebuild their homes.

Salimbangon said this shall serve a good Christmas gift for typhoon Yolanda victims. Sponsors will be provided with pictures of the rebuilding process from scratch up until the house is completed.

He said that during the onslaught of the super typhoon, 68,000 houses were destroyed while 40,000 others were damaged in his district. He said the Department of Social Welfare and Development's cash for work program is not enough to cover all the reconstruction needed in his district.

Under the cash for work program, house owners are required to work in exchange for a P5,000 cash assistance.

Salimbangon admitted that Bantayan Island's land classification may be a stumbling block to the program, considering that the whole island is classified as timberland; therefore, no land titles can be issued. However, he said he is taking measures that his bill reclassifying Bantayan Island into alienable and disposable land will become a law in this present Congress.

Salimbangon said that for the past two congresses his bill always end up short.

He said that in one instance his proposed bill was passed by the Lower House and was forwarded to the Upper House yet it ended up at the committee level only. Now that he is back to square one, he hopes his proposed measure will make it to the present Congress.

The congressman said that victims cannot avail of a National Housing Authority loan because they do not have a title for the land where they built their respective homes. (FREEMAN)