by Rio N. Araja
[ manilastandardtoday.com ] January 24, 2012
THE Department of the Interior and Local Government has ordered mayors nationwide to solve squatting in their areas.
Secretary Jesse Robredo told city and municipal mayors to create committee to go after squatting syndicates and professional squatters.
“The government is very serious in addressing the problem, and it needs the active participation of local government units through the creation of their local committees on anti-syndicate squatting and professional squatters,” he said.
He added even the Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao is not spared from his order.
He said the proliferation of professional squatters and squatting syndicates has been rampant not only in the urban areas but in the rural areas as well.
Such committees must serve as the operating arm of the National Drive Against Professional Squatters and Squatting Syndicates, he noted.
He said local governments under Republic Act 7279, otherwise known as the Urban Development and Housing Act, are mandated to adopt measures to effectively curtail the nefarious and illegal activities of professional squatters and squatting syndicates.
He also directed all DILG regional directors to submit quarterly reports regarding the identified professional squatters and squatting syndicates, demolition and eviction activities covered by the LCASSPS within their regional assignments.
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