Monday, July 21, 2008 Minimize restrictions on housing beneficiaries
THE Cebu City Council has directed Barangay Labangon to revise its resolution enacting an ordinance regulating the selection of beneficiaries for its socialized housing program.
The council’s committee on laws, ordinances, public accountability and good government suggested that the barangay delete additional restrictions and limitations in the eligibility criteria.
The council also told the barangay to constitute a Barangay Registration Committee (BRC), done through a community assembly, to conduct and manage the registration process.
Income
The committee on laws, through a report made by its chairman, City Councilor Edgardo Labella, said that under Republic Act No. 7279 or the Urban Development and Housing Act of 1999, housing beneficiaries should be underprivileged citizens “whose income or combined household income falls within the poverty threshold, as defined by the National Economic and Development Authority.”
Criteria
Labella cited Section 3 of Barangay Resolution No. 1367, particularly on the eligibility criteria, which “was seemed broadened and some limitations or restrictions were added.”
He mentioned in particular the requirement that a resident must be a registered voter of Labangon and that the head of the family must not be older than 54 years old.
“Under the law of Legal Hermeneutics, if the law does not qualify, we must not qualify,” he said.
Labella said that under the implementing rules and regulations of registration, the barangay level should be undertaken by the BRC.
NGO
The body should be composed of the barangay captain, an LGU daycare worker, non-government organization representative, and two more from urban poor organizations based in the barangay.
“There is no showing that the BRC of Barangay Labangon was already constituted; and (if) community assemblies were made about the registration procedure in accordance with the IRR, it was not likewise indicated,” the committee said.
Resolution No. 1367 was returned to Barangay Labangon for its officials to take into consideration the suggestions and recommendations of city council. (RHM)
