[ Published by Manilastandardtoday.com ]
February 2, 2008
The government has embarked on an intensified campaign against squatting syndicates nationwide, Vice President Noli de Castro said yesterday.
The campaign has just been strengthened with he Housing Urban and Development Coordinating Council creating the National Drive against Professional Squatter and Squatting Syndicates and formulating that guidelines to ensure active participation of several state agencies, De Castro said. As part of its mandate to suppress the illegal activities of professional squatters and squatting syndicates, the HUDCC has already made a major headway with the arrest of alleged squatting syndicate Wilfredo Torres, said De Castro, who is also the administration’s housing czar being the head of several regulatory agencies on housing and home lending.
The implementing guidelines will strengthen the cooperation and coordination of NDAPSSS member- agencies since their roles are clearly defined, thus avoiding the overlapping of functions. It will also facilitate the prosecution of professional squatters and syndicates making the process much faster,” said De Castro.
Members of the NDAPSSS include the Presidential Commission for the Urban Poor, Land Registration Authority, the National Police, the Department of the Interior and Local Government, the Department of the Environment and Natural Resources, the National Urban Poor Sectoral Council of the National Anti-Poverty Commission, the National Bureau of Investigation, the Office of the Solicitor General, the Public Attorneys’ Office, and the Housing and Urban Development Coordinating Council. The NDAPSSS is also mandated to work closely with its local government units and the Local Committee Against Squatting Syndicates and Professional Squatters, De Castro said.
The guidelines designate the HUDCC and the DoJ as the lead agencies to implement EO 153, strengthen the National Police Task Force against professional squatters and squatting syndicates, direct concerned agencies to give full support on the fight against professional squatters and squatting syndicates, and provide the procedures on summary eviction, demolition, relocation and containment.
[ Published by : Manilastandardtoday.com ] February 2, 2008
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