Creation of urban development and housing board proposed

BAGUIO CITY – Councilor Maria Mylen Victoria G. Yaranon proposed an ordinance creating the Baguio City Urban Development and Housing Board which was approved on first reading and referred to the Committee on Urban Planning, Lands, and Housing of the City Council for further study.

The proposal underscored the necessity of creating a board that will act as a One-Stop-Shop Housing Processing Center which will process “all housing related permits, clearances, and certifications, but not limited to land use classification, development permits, location clearances, and certifications, and other housing related activities.”

The ordinance recommended for the appointment of the City Mayor as Chairperson of the Board and the Chairperson of the Committee on Urban Planning, Lands, and Housing of the City Council as Co-Chairperson of the Board.

It will also convene the City Administrator, the City Planning and Development Officer, the City Engineer, the chairperson of the Committee on Public Works, the chairperson of the Committee on Livelihood, Cooperatives and PWDs, and the chairperson of the Committee on Social Services, Women, and Urban Poor of the City Council as Board Members.

They will perform their duties and responsibilities “without any compensation and remuneration except honorariums as may be granted by the City Council in its annual appropriation and supplemental budget.”

Among the functions of the Board are the following: Promulgate policies/ guidelines pertinent to the implementation of the Local Shelter and Housing Programs in accordance with Urban Development Housing Act (RA 7279) which provides for “a decent shelter to the underprivileged and homeless citizens in urban areas”; ensure the creation of the Baguio City Urban Development and Housing Office which will design programs, execute, and coordinate all plans, projects, and activities relating to the implementation of community-based housing and other appropriate social housing program packages for designated target clienteles/beneficiaries; and advise the City Council on matters of local taxation which may affect the local government’s community-based housing programs.

The Board will prioritize extending financial assistance to the following: Victims of evictions and demolitions, if there is no available relocation or resettlement project as defined under Section 28 of Urban Development Housing Act (RA 7279); registered and accredited community housing associations for the purpose of equity and other incidental expenses of housing related projects; earnest money for private landowners for housing projects; down payment for the acquisition of private property/ right of way for housing related projects; and expropriation proceedings of private properties for low-cost and socialized housing projects.

The proposal also included financial assistance extended to community housing associations “in the form of loan with 6% interest rate charged per annum and payable on installment basis.”

The proposal also indicated the duty of the Board to “oversee and coordinate government activities relative to consultations, relocations, and resettlement of the underprivileged and homeless citizens in cases when evictions and demolitions affecting them are necessary and allowed by existing laws.” The Board will issue directives, rules, and regulations when deemed necessary to ensure that the process and act of eviction and demolition is done in a just and humane manner.

The proposed ordinance will enjoin national government agencies or other proponents of eviction and demolition activities affecting the underprivileged to submit a compliance report to the Baguio City Urban Development and Housing Board with a statement under oath stating that “adequate relocation as defined and outlined under pertinent laws, rules, and regulations have already been undertaken sufficiently with the affected residents” and that “the pre-location and post-relocation phases outlined under pertinent laws, rules, and regulations have been carefully observed.”

Jordan G. Habbiling-SPPIO/ABN

Amianan Balita Ngayon