ILOILO City – In the wake of the alleged illegal sale of lots at the city government’s relocation site, the Iloilo City Urban Poor Affairs Office’s (ICUPAO) powers would be slashed.
Mayor Jerry Treñas said a board will be created to vet on qualified beneficiaries for relocation lots – a task that ICUPAO used to do.
“The ICUPAO will have reduced functions and powers. It is really going to be the board that will finally decide and will recommend to me kon sin-o gid man ang makakuha sang relocation site or condo units,” he said.
Treñas also announced that ICUPAO will be headed temporarily by Assistant City Administrator Butch Panaguiton.
ICUPAO head Roy Firmeza took a one-month leave starting yesterday.
“As additional function of his office, sya da anay tan-aw tan-aw until such time may ara kita dira ibutang kag ang board naton will be in place,” Treñas said.
Last week, the city mayor ordered the dismissal of two casual employees assigned at the ICUPAO – an overall site coordinator and a site coordinator – over the alleged selling of relocation lots.
Aside from this, an investigating committee headed by Atty. GV Cunada will be created to review all awards for the past four years, said Treñas.
All awards which were not proper or without basis will be annulled, and appropriate criminal and administrative charges will be filed as may be warranted, he added.
Treñas recalled that prior to the election last year, the city government raffled off socialized housing units to low-salaried employees of the city government. It is SM Prime Holdings and its construction division, SM Development Corporation (SMDC), that would build the socialized housing units as part of its 15 percent housing balance compliance of SMDC nationwide.
There were supposed to be a total of 120 housing units to be raffled off. However, only 100 were drawn because of the election period.
After election, there were 20 housing units remaining but the city mayor was surprised when he was told that the 20 vacant slots were already filled in.
“So we will have to revisit these awards. I promise this will be raffled off because I do not want any semblance of favoritism on my part especially because I am the sitting mayor,” he added.
On the other hand, when asked if Firmeza will be permanently replaced following the controversy, the city mayor responded: “Tan-awon ta.”/PN
