‘Better place to live in’ for Informal Settlers
CAPITOL NEWS
Lingayen – All 47 families that formerly resided at the back of the Casa Real edifice and were peacefully relocated at the Lingayen Gulf Resettlement Project (LGRP) recently expressed their appreciation to the provincial government for giving them a “better place to live in.”
Engr. Angelito Pedeglorio, Provincial Housing and Urban Development Coordinating Office (PHUDCO) Caretaker, said that all 47 families that used to dwell in sitio Lagasit here are now comfortably residing in their new homes in sitio Aplaya, barangay Pangapisan North, here.
Jennifer Cayabyab, 35, a beneficiary of the resettlement project, considers their relocation to the LGRP as an advantage, noting that each lot is awarded with a house measuring 42 sq. m.
One of the beneficiaries of the resettlement project of the provincial government checks the ongoing construction of his house at Sitio Aplaya, barangay Pangapisan North in Lingayen.
“Mas maganda dito kasi sariling lupa na namin ito. Kung ikukumpara mo naman sa Lagasit eh siksikan talaga,” Cayabyab said, noting that flood waters in their former residence takes a long time to subside.
Informal settlers started to live in sitio Lagasit after the EDSA revolution, but their occupancy in the land granted by the government had already expired.
Pedeglorio, Housing and Homesite Regulation Officer II, said that the provincial government provided the installation of water system, and coordinated with the Central Pangasinan Electric Cooperative (CENPELCO) for the installation of electricity in the relocation site.
Aside from getting lot and block assignments, the families also received construction materials and were entitled to a four-day cash-for-work after the 19-day demolition/dismantling and relocation efforts which started from August 12 to September 10, 2015.
Dismantled wooden structures and roofings, along with house appliances and personal belongings were also transported by the provincial government to the relocation site.
Prior to the demolition of structures in sitio Lagasit, Pedeglorio added that dialogues had been conducted between the provincial government and the concerned families in which a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) in favor of the resettlement was unanimously signed by all 47 households.
Meanwhile, rehabilitation of the Casa Real, a historical building which served as the first seat of provincial leadership during the Spanish Era, may start as soon as the fund is made available. /Mark Gerry Naval Oblanca
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