By Leonardo Micua
LINGAYEN, Pangasinan, (PNA) — Pangasinan was cited as this year’s grand champion in the Search for the LGU Best Practice Award in the Drive Against Professional Squatters and Squatting Syndicates nationwide.
The award was received by Alvin Bigay, Pangasinan Housing and Urban Development Coordinating Officer, last October 25 at Megamall in Mandaluyong City from no less than Vice President Jejomar Binay, likewise the Housing and Urban Development Coordinating Council (HUDCC) chair.
Bigay said the award was the result of the provincial government’s effective and efficient programs in support of the mandates of Republic Act No. 7279 or Special Laws on Anti-Squatting.
Likewise, the housing chief earlier said that since the start of the Gov. Amado T. Espino, Jr.’s tenure in 2007, the provincial government has taken bold steps in establishing innovative steps to address the perennial problem on illegal settlers in the province.
Bigay disclosed that upon the instruction of the governor the provincial government has a continuing effort to adopt a meaningful long-term plan to provide more liveable communities in the province especially focused on the informal settlers living in danger areas such as shorelines, riverbanks and waterways, and other public places to pursue the housing vision for a slum-free Pangasinan.Based on data, there are at least 19,000 illegal settlers in Pangasinan, most of whom live in the coastal areas, private lots or public lands.
With this number, the provincial government according to Bigay, has been continuously applying effective solutions to address the problem such as the establishment of various relocation or resettlement sites where they can start a descent life anew.
He identified the sites as: Lingayen Gulf Ressetlement Project in Pangapisan Norte, Lingayen; Aplaya West Resettlement Project (P12 million-project to be finaced by the National Housing Authority); Natividad Resettlement Project; and the soon to be developed Estuario Grande Village Project also in Pangapisan Norte in Lingayen.
Statistics show that in the 2005 to 2010 survey, Pangasinan posted a housing need of 89,277 units.
Bigay said that the leaders of the various local government units (LGUs) in the province are fully supportive of the housing projects thus exerting efforts to thresh out plans to effectively address the squatting problem in their own municipality.
As LGU’s share of support, 33 out of 44 towns and four cities in Pangasinan have already crafted their local shelter plan (LSP) which is the highest compliance in the entire North Luzon area.
The awarding rite coincided with the National Shelter Month celebration held every month of October and served as the highlight of the 2013 Housing Fair celebration.
Aside from the plaque of recognition, the province received a cash prize of P100,000.
Also present during the awarding ceremony was Mandaluyong City Mayor Benhur Abalos, Jr. (host LGU of the 2013 Housing Fair), and Usec and HUDCC Secretary-General Cecilia S. Alba.