Metropolis Councilor Rey Gealon | Screengrab from Sangguniang Panlungsod Cebu Metropolis – Secretariat
CEBU CITY, Philippines – A neighborhood legislator referred to as for an investigation into the inclusion of unqualified beneficiaries in Cebu Metropolis’s socialized housing program.
In a privileged speech throughout the council’s common session, Councilor Rey Gealon addressed the alleged abuses within the metropolis’s socialized housing program, which is meant to supply reasonably priced housing to underprivileged households.
He stated that sure people, together with professionals who don’t meet this system’s {qualifications}, are poised to obtain housing tons, on the expense of those that really want them.
“It has come to my consideration that some people who don’t qualify for this program, corresponding to an engineer and different professionals, are about to be awarded tons, taking away alternatives from those that really deserve a good place to name house,” he stated on October 9.
READ:
Cebu Metropolis plans to bid out 400 transitional housing by September
The councilor identified that this system, guided by Metropolis Ordinance No. 1969, was established to supply housing to essentially the most susceptible—these whose family earnings falls beneath the poverty threshold and who don’t personal housing services.
He stated that permitting unqualified beneficiaries to take part violates the ordinance’s pointers and undermines the core values of equity, inclusivity, and compassion that this system was constructed on.
Gealon additional pressured the adverse affect of this abuse on this system and its meant beneficiaries.
“True beneficiaries are displaced, assets are wasted, and public belief is eroded,” he stated.
He defined that households who genuinely want housing are being pushed additional down the ready record, whereas vital metropolis assets, time, effort, and funds are being misallocated.
Gealon additionally warned that such abuses might result in the erosion of public belief within the system.
“When individuals see that the system is being manipulated, it creates disillusionment and diminishes the sense of equity that ought to information public packages,” he added.
READ:
Cebu city poor group opposes Marcos’ high-rise housing undertaking
To handle the problem, Gealon referred to as for stronger measures, together with the implementation of extra rigorous screening and verification processes to make sure that solely certified candidates—corresponding to low-income households, casual settlers, and essentially the most susceptible—are permitted for this system.
He additionally urged for normal audits and investigations of the Masterlist of Beneficiaries to establish and take away unqualified people who’ve infiltrated the system.
Moreover, Gealon urged stricter penalties for many who falsify data or use their affect to bypass this system’s pointers.
“This should embody not solely elimination from this system but in addition authorized actions to discourage future abuses,” he stated.
As a part of his suggestions, Gealon moved for the Metropolis Council to name an govt session with the Division for the Welfare of the City Poor to deal with the problem.
He additionally requested an investigation by the Metropolis Authorized Workplace into the inclusion of unqualified beneficiaries within the Masterlist, saying it was in clear violation of town’s ordinances.
Gealon additional referred to as on the Cebu Metropolis Authorities to take rapid motion in revising and tightening the choice pointers to make sure this system stays clear and continues to serve its meant function.
READ:
Cebu Metropolis housing builders, homeowners protest steep rise in RPT
He requested the Workplace of the Mayor to droop the awarding of socialized housing tons to unqualified beneficiaries pending the end result of the investigation.
“Our socialized housing program exists to uplift the lives of our fellow Cebuanos who dwell on the margins, and we should defend the integrity of this program in any respect prices,” Gealon stated.
“Socialized housing just isn’t a commodity to be exploited; it’s a lifeline for many who have little or no,” he added. /clorenciana
Learn Subsequent
Disclaimer: The feedback uploaded on this website don’t essentially signify or replicate the views of administration and proprietor of Cebudailynews. We reserve the fitting to exclude feedback that we deem to be inconsistent with our editorial requirements.
