322 houses for homeless families soon to rise in Kidapawan

KIDAPAWAN CITY – At least 322 additional housing units for homeless and displaced families would be erected in a lot here under the local government’s resettlement project, reports from the city’s legal department said.On Friday, City legal officer Christoper Cabilen led an inspection team, composed of project contractor, city engineer, planning and development officer, and representatives from the National Housing Authority (NHA), where they conducted a relocation survey at Purok-8, Barangay Sudapin.Cabilen said the five-hectare lot intended for the Resettlement Housing Project Phase 4 of the city LGU was purchased by the previous administration, many years ago.The project costs P34 million.But because of problems on ownership and alleged encroachment, the development was put on hold, reports said.In 2013, the LGU has decided to push through the project but was again stalled because of some legal issues attached to it.In June 2018 or five years later, Cabilen said the LGU is already decided to continue with the project after the Commission on Audit (CoA) made an inquiry as to its status.During the ocular visit, a group of protesters from the Sibug clan arrived at the site and questioned the process.They claimed they owned the land.Jennifer Sibug, former employee at the National Commission on Indigenous Peoples (NCIP), said the city LGU, despite its knowledge that the lot ownership was in question, still purchased it in 2010. We already filed cases at a local court here.These cases are still pending until now, said Sibug.Sibug also questioned the presence at the site of police personnel and members of the Special Weapons and Tactics (SWAT) of the Kidapawan City PNP. Why would they bring these policemen in the area?We did not intend to harass them, she stressed.Despite the protests, the city LGU, according to Cabilen, is not bothered. As long as there is no court order preventing us from developing the lot, we will continue with the project, he said, adding, What we only aim is to give 300 plus homeless families in the city the opportunity to own a house.