Mayor Joric Gacula to Pnoy: Legitimize Lupang Arenda settlers

Taytay mayor to Pnoy: Legitimize Lupang Arenda settlers

MANILA, Philippines - The municipal mayor of Taytay in Rizal is urging the Palace to seriously consider issuing a new executive order that would legitimize the settlement of some 50,000 families living in Lupang Arenda for the last 13 years.   In a statement, Taytay Mayor Joric Gacula urged President Benigno Aquino III to issue his version of Proclamation 704-1995, declaring the 80-hectare Lupang Arenda in Barangay Sta. Ana as a resettlement.   Gacula made the call after Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) found that the vast parcel of land as suitable for habitation.   The mayor said that the fact that the 50,000 families have been living in Lupang Arenda for the last 13 years makes them ‘legitimate’ settlers under the Urban Development Housing Act (UDHA).   He added that the executive order that was issued by former President Gloria Macapagal- Arroyo resulted in serious repercussions in the socialized housing area, one of which is subjecting residents to fear of a possible eviction at any given time.    The order has earlier been repealed despite the DENR study, findings and recommendations.    "They are legitimate settlers and not squatters as what EO 854 refers them. Aside from the fact that the government does not have a viable place that would fit them all in one place, eviction and transfer of these families would displace them from work and livelihood”, Gacula said in his statement.   He however admitted that the area is flood prone, but only because the road dike has yet been fully completed.     The road dike is a government flagship project designed to seal of the entire Laguna de Bay and keep its water from spilling into the surrounding towns. -- Dennis Carcamo