CITY GOV'T TO PURCHASE PROPERTIES FOR RELOCATION SITES

The city government of Puerto Princesa will purchase properties for the relocation sites of four barangays affected by the on-going coastal renewal project at Puerto Princesa Bay.
In the regular session of the Sangguniang Panlungsod several resolutions were approved by the city council giving authority to Mayor Edward S. Hagedorn for the purchase of such properties for the affected barangays such as Matahimik, Mabuhay, Bagong Silang and Pagkakaisa.
According to Councilor Feliberto Oliveros III, Chairman of the Committee on Appropriation, the coastal renewal project has been pending due to the presence of informal settlers who are not yet relocated. By giving an authority to the city mayor the project will continue and informal settlers will have its own property to call.
\"The reason why the project did not pursue is because there are still residents in the coastal area,\" Oliveros confirmed.
During the deliberation it was found out that the residents of the said barangays will be transferred to Bgy. Sicsican except Muslims, particularly the Badjaos thriving at Bgy. Bagong Silang, which will be relocated at Honda Bay.
Oliveros said the payment of the said property will come from the annual budget of the city government and the unavailed loan of the city government from Land Bank of the Philippines (LBP) lending center which is intented for the reclamation of the coastal development Phase 2-C and 3A. The said amount will also be used as disturbance fees for the residents.
The sanggunian resolution for this objective was unanimously approved by the council.

CHERYL A. GALILI | The Palawan Times; February 01-07, 2010