By Dominique Gabriel G. Bañaga

After the Bacolod City Sangguniang Panlungsod requested records for the Ciudad de Felisa housing project from the National Housing Authority (NHA), which was met by a response claiming the Philippine National Police had the list, Bacolod City Councilor Renecito Novero called out the “finger pointing” between the two organizations.
With the Police Regional Office-6 (PRO-6) indicating they are not able to provide an inventory of project as it may jeopardize the safety of the residents, the project is intended to provide housing for members of law enforcement and the armed forces, the city councilor said they are still without a clear record of the status of the area’s 1,500 housing units.
Novero added, with some of the units falling into disrepair, the matter must be addressed or it will be seen as a waste of government money.
Last year, the said housing project came into the spotlight after members of the Kalipunan ng Damayang Mahihirap, or Kadamay, occupied the housing units, claiming informal settlers as “qualified beneficiaries.”
Police were eventually called in to have the group removed.
At the time, Senator JV Ejercito visited the site, where he indicated, “It is not free.”
He explained, a P300 monthly amortization is assessed because occupants are expected to have the capacity to pay P2,000 a month to landlords.
“We will use the amortization to further finance other developments,” Ejercito added./DGB, WDJ