[ manilastandardtoday.com ]
The Bases Conversion and Development
Authority urged residents of Jusmag property in Fort Bonifacio to vacate the
lot and tap the government’s relocation program.
Arnel Casanova, BCDA president, said
only about 21 families out of 299, or seven percent, living in the area have
not applied for relocation, insisting that the BCDA has no jurisdiction over
the 35.5-hectare Jusmag area.
Casanova said 277 families occupying
10 hectares of the property have voluntarily vacate the area and avail of the
BCDA’s relocation option. Of the 277 families, 198 have already vacated the
area.
On the other hand, a total of 107
families have opted for outright cash while 69 families chose to relocate in
the National Housing Authority’s relocation site in Rodriguez, Rizal.
“The relocation program presented to
the informal settlers is considered one of the best relocation programs so far
offered to informal settlers,” Casanova said.
The relocation package consists of
cash equivalent to the value of their respective houses as assessed by the
Taguig City Assessor’s Office, plus a cash incentive which the resettlers can
use as start-up capital for any livelihood project they may set up in their new
community, according to the BCDA official.
As to the remaining residents who
threatened BCDA of criminal lawsuits, Casanova said they held a dialogue with
them on July 26.
“However, the dialogue abruptly ended
following the unruly behavior from representatives of the seven percent
minority who refused to avail of the relocation program,” he said.
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