By Charissa Luci-Atienza Speaker Gloria Macapagal Arroyo wants to dispose 71 hectares of the Manggahan Floodway Socialized Housing Project Site in Taytay, Rizal, to qualified beneficiaries. Pampanga Representative Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo (Jansen Romero/ MANILA BULLETIN) The House chief cited a need to implement on-site development for housing, socio-economic, civic and educational purposes in areas where basic services and employment opportunities are accessible, particularly those located in the Manggahan Floodway. Arroyo noted that in 1994, President Fidel V. Ramos issued Proclamation No. 458 declaring certain parcels of land situated along the Manggahan Floodway in the municipalities of Cainta and Taytay in Rizal and City of Pasig as open for disposition in favor of the qualified beneficiaries in accordance with Republic Act 7279, otherwise known as the “Urban Development and Housing Act of 1992” and Memorandum Order No. 191, dated February 12, She said the ownership of such government land was transferred to the National Housing Authority (NHA), which was also tasked to award the lands in favor of qualified beneficiaries. “Unfortunately for the residents, charitable and educational institutions actually occupying said lands, the lots have not yet been awarded to them by the NHA,” Arroyo said. “Despite a series of dialogues, consultations and the creation of a technical working group to identify issues and concerns regarding the Manggahan Floodway Socialized Project Site, no actual and specific action has been taken to fully provide security of housing to the urban poor of the forestalled Manggahan Floodway Socialized Project Site,” she said. The Pampanga representative laments that plans and programs aimed toward on-site development and implementation of measures concerning issues on sanitation, environmental protection, structural stability, and economic viability cannot be fully achieved. “The affected families and other public and private institutions occupying parts of the said lands for socioeconomic, civic and educational purposes have been appealing to the government for the past two decades that the immediate awarding of such lands be undertaken through legislation,” Arroyo said. “It is about time for the government to listen to this plea and fulfill its policy to advance the implementation of the proclamation issued more than 20 years ago,” she said. Arroyo filed House Bill 8255, which provides that 71 hectares of the reserved site for socialized housing development at the east and west embankment side of the Manggahan Floodway Socialized Housing Project be allocated for disposition to qualified beneficiaries. Under the proposed Manggahan Floodway Socialized Housing Project Act, the determination of qualified beneficiaries shall be based on the national census survey conducted in 1994 and occupancy verification survey conducted in 2005. HB 8255 calls for the creation of the Manggahan Floodway Socialized Housing Project Site administration committee, which shall be chaired by the Housing and Urban Development Coordinating Council. The administration committee is tasked to administer, manage, operate an equitable housing distribution system and implement the land disposition of the areas covered by the proposed Act. Arroyo’s measure also provides that all lands in the Manggahan Floodway Socialized Housing Project Site to be sold to qualified beneficiaries under the proposed Act, are exempted from the payment of capital gains tax. A congressional oversight committee shall be created to monitor the disposition of land covered by the proposed Act, according to the bill. The NHA, in coordination with the administration committee, is tasked to promulgate the implementing rules and regulations of the proposed Act.