CITY OF SAN FERNANDO – The National Housing Authority (NHA) and the provincial government are bent on conducting an investigation on the rampant encroaching and squatting activities in the resettlement sites owned by the agency allegedly involving local officials and other informal settlers in Arayat, Floridablanca and Magalang towns.
During the site inspection of NHA officials with Gov.Lilia Pineda in San Isidro Resettlement in Magalang, Telapayong Resettlement in Arayat, and Floridablanca Resettlement Site, they discovered the uncontrolled squatting on vacant lots and open spaces owned by the agency.
Almost 300 illegal structures where found in Magalang while illegal commercial establishments were spotted in Floridablanca.
Residents from San Isidro who refused to be named for fear of reprisal reported to NHA that among the illegally constructed houses are owned by the barangay officials and their families.
“How can they prevent squatting when they are the owners of the structures or sometimes, they even permitted the construction because of their close affiliation to the informal settlers,” they said
Ines Gonzales, project manager of NHA III said the resettlement site in this town was constructed for the victims of Mt. Pinatubo eruption but they learned that some of the houses were sold by the tenants and a certain “doctor” bought numerous units and vacant lots.
“We will conduct inventory of the housing units. Our agency will also check the possibility of illegal purchased of the units and lots,” she said.
In Floridablanca Resettlement Site, Gonzales was also surprised to see the appearance of commercial establishment in the area that is supposed to be vacant.
“We inspected the area almost four months ago, and then suddenly these structures were constructed without the knowledge of NHA. All permits should emanate from our office since we have not turned-over the site to the LGU,” Gonzales claimed.
A resident said based on rumors, the establishment is owned by a high-ranking official of the town and the other structures were constructed on the basis of the permission apparently given by the municipality.
Hearing the predicament of the NHA officials, Gov. Lilia Pineda vowed to coordinate with LGUs and barangay officials in removing all illegal structures.
“The provincial government will give instruction to LGUs and barangay officials to form a task force that will monitor and clear the resettlement area from informal settlers,” said Gov. Pineda.
The governor also said that she will support the investigation of the involvement of local officials on the indiscriminate and uncontrolled squatting activities.
“We will not tolerate local officials to abuse their authority. The probe on the squatting issues should be conducted to correct these wrong doings,” she said.
BY JENNA LUMBANG
