With the completion of the socioeconomic survey of the 93-1 occupants, the Office of the Vice President finally came up with an agreement with the Capitol.
Chito Borromeo, consultant of the vice president on housing, told reporters that it has been agreed that Pag-Ibig Fund and the Community Mortgage Program (CMP) will finance the acquisition of the lot.
Borromeo said the survey showed that not everyone can qualify for CMP, which was earlier proposed by Vice President Jejomar Binay because some of the occupants are no longer considered indigents.
He said these families have average income higher than the poverty threshold.
“They belong to the formal sectors. Appropriate financing will move to make them acquire their land,” Borromeo said.
The detailed survey will be published in the barangays for the validation of the occupants as this survey will be considered the official government survey.
Borromeo said after the validation process, consultations among the lot occupants will start. Within the first quarter of this year, the survey will be done in four barangays—Capitol, Camputhaw, Busay and Kalunasan.
Though the prices of the lots may vary per barangay, Borromeo said it is within what is “acceptable” to the lot occupants and the provincial government.
Borromeo said if the outcome in the four barangays will be successful, then it will be a lot easier with the remaining barangays.
During the consultations, Borromeo said they will be dealing with the established community associations.
Cebu City Administrator Jose Marie Poblete, who was also invited to the meeting, said the developments showed the Capitol’s earnest effort to resolve the issue.
Poblete assured that the city will help in any way they can. Correspondent Carmel Loise Matus