The conversion of a portion of Camp Atienza in Barangay Libis, Quezon City into a socialized housing site for some 200 informal settler families is now being finalized.
This was made possible after the Bases Conversion Development Authority (BCDA), which maintains ownership and control over the military reservation camp, finally secured on June 3 from the Register of Deeds the required certificate of land title to the property, which has an area of about 5,340 square meters.
QC Congressman Jorge “Bolet” Banal of the city’s third district and BCDA president Arnel Paciano Casanova, had already made representations for the official conveyance of the Camp Atienza property to the National Housing Authority (NHA) for the eventual awarding of the subject property to qualified program beneficiaries.
“This is a demonstration of BCDA’s social mission to improve the living conditions of the less privileged,” Casanova said.
For his part, Congressman Banal said the development of the Camp Atienza property as a socialized housing site complements Mayor Herbert Bautista’s continuing thrust to develop decent and productive communities for the city’s poor.
Both Congressman Banal and BCDA president Casanova have called on the qualified program beneficiaries to protect their housing rights and avoid engaging in the selling of these rights to squatting syndicates and professional squatters. “ Halos dalawang dekada po kayong naghintay, sana naman ay pangalagaan ninyo ang ipagkakaloob sa inyo ng pribilehiyo,” the two officials said.
The disposition of the Atienza property is pursuant to the provisions of Executive Order 116 issued by then President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo in 2002.
To implement the Executive Order, a memorandum of agreement was sealed in May 2006 by the BCDA, Housing and Urban Development and Coordinating Council (HUDCC), Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR), Department of National Defense (DND), NHA, Presidential Commission for the Urban Poor (PCUP), the QC government and the office of the Representative of the 3rd Congressional District of QC.
As provided in the agreement, the city government shall participate in the selection of qualified beneficiaries and in the provision of the necessary funds and assistance in the development of the community, including provisions of basic and other community services.
On the other hand, the office of the third district congressman shall provide the necessary funds for the subdivision survey and lot titling. (Precy)
Posted By: Edrillan Pasion
