Bacolod Councilor Dindo Ramos yesterday said the P150 million loan they are securing from the bank will be used solely to acquire parcels of lots for the city’s relocation site and will not be used as campaign funds as alleged by their critics.

Ramos said the China Banking Corp. property in Brgy. Vista Alegre, Bacolod is subject of a pending litigation, so the Task Force on Landbanking has recommended to the city the Antigua/Andal property, also located in Brgy. Vista Alegre, he said.

Both properties are being offered to the city at P250 per square meter.

Ramos, chairman of the Sangguniang Panlungsod Committee on Urban Poor, Housing and Resettlement, said that the need to acquire a new relocation site is urgent, considering that there are more than 2,000 informal settlers who are facing demolition by December 2009 since the courts have issued ejection orders to them.

He said that if their critics, who are claiming that the loan will be used as campaign funds, could provide relocation sites for those facing ejection, he is willing to withdraw the resolution granting the mayor authority to sign the loan agreement with the Philippine National Bank.

PEOPLE MUST MONITOR

Ramos suggested that the people should be vigilant and make sure that the proceeds of the loan agreement will be used only for the purchase of a relocation site that is needed by the people.

He said if they could acquire the property by September they can start developing it and can distribute the home lots before December.

Ramos said they could also amend the subdivision plan of the existing Vista Alegre-Granada (Abada Escay) relocation site and distribute the 30 percent area provided for open spaces and road lots for those who need them, while the new relocation site is being developed.

He said the Appraisal Committee will determine how much the beneficiaries will pay the city in terms of equity and monthly amortization for the property.

“What is certain is the fact that the value of the property will be within the capacity of the people to pay,” he added.

Ramos said they have applied for a total loan of P250 million, the P150 million for the acquisition of the property, with the P100 million for the development of the site.

This is because Mayor Evelio Leonardia wants to provide a relocation site with good roads, a drainage system and water system, he said.  

Ramos said the loan has already been approved by the bank and what they need to comply with is the estimate of the cost of the site development plan.

LOTS WILL BE PAID FOR

He said the mayor will request for another authority to sign the loan agreement for the development of the site.

Ramos said the city will have a return of investment for the P250 million loan since the beneficiaries will pay for the home lots that will be distributed to them.

Meanwhile, Ramos said the property that will be free of informal settlers will be occupied later by high-rise buildings or residential areas and this will increase the income of the city through payment of real property taxes.

He said he has a proposal for the Office of the Building Official to be given authority to prevent the construction of any structure without permits from their office in order to address the squatter problem of the city.

Secretary to the Mayor Vicente Petierre III, a member of the Task Force on Landbanking, said they have received eight proposals for the relocation site – the China Banking Corp., Andrade, Lizares, Lazarte, Gallespin, Lacson, Benares and the Antigua/Andal families.

They visited all the areas and found out that some were small and cost more than P250 per square meter, he said.

Petierre said the China Bank property in Vista Alegre is also ideal for relocation site purposes, but it has portions which are not contiguous to the existing relocation site, and is subject of a pending litigation.*CGS

back to top