Davao city has 12 relocation sites situated in the areas of Tibungco, Panacan, Mintal and Toril populated by more or less 8,000 beneficiaries according to Rigor.
By ALEX D. LOPEZ
Davao Today
DAVAO CITY, Philippines — The city government is keen on acquiring two more land areas, particularly in the second and third districts that will be transformed into relocation sites for the informal settlers and for socialized housing projects.
This, after existing relocation sites, except for one, were found fully occupied, according to Roy Ryan Rigor of the Housing and Homesite Development of the city government during a regular press briefing here on Thursday at the conference room of Davao City hall.
Davao City has 12 relocation sites situated in the areas of Tibungco, Panacan, Mintal and Toril populated by more or less 8,000 beneficiaries according to Rigor.
Only the Los Amigos resettlement site has vacant slots for relocation purposes, the housing official added.
For the past years, Davao City has been plagued by housing problem among the urban poor. Earlier incidents of demolitions had led to the dislocation of urban poor settlers, from their abodes and sources of income.
In a recent press briefing, the urban poor group Kalipunan ng Damayang Mahihirap (Kadamay) revealed that 57 communities in Davao City with more or less 6,000 families were dislodged due to demolitions.
Definitely, with the policy of privatization taking place coupled with the continued implementation of programs and projects anchored on Public-Private Partnership, cases of demolition and dislocation of the urban poor will increase in Davao, the group Kadamay added.
According to Rigor, from 2011 until now, the city government of Davao has a total budget of PHP 48 million (USD ) for social housing.
At present, he added, a technical team from his office is undergoing land banking prior to the actual acquisition of land areas for relocation and social housing.
Land banking is a process of identifying land areas viable for relocation and housing project, Rigor explained. The considerations include the price, feasibility and accessibility to basic services such as water and electricity.
“We need data on these lands, the water, electricity, including the price so that we can recommend the findings to the local housing board,” Rigor said. (Alex D. Lopez/davaotoday.com)
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