GENERAL SANTOS CITY (23 February 2015) – The San Miguel Foundation has donated a seven-hectare land to the local government unit of General Santos City (LGU-GSC) that will be used as a relocation site for informal settlers.
The land located in Upper Tambler was purchased by the San Miguel Corporation to provide an alternative residence to some 450 families who are currently settling in San Miguel’s 21-hectare company-owned land in Upper Banualan, Barangay Tambler, just in front of a San Miguel compound.
Mary Ann Bacar, City Housing and Land Management Office (CHLMO) head, said San Miguel has already provided basic amenities in the area such as water and electricity.
The donation was formalized between San Miguel and the LGU-GSC—represented by Mayor Ronnel Rivera—through a signing of a Memorandum of Agreement and a Deed of Donation on February 17.
“After talking with Mayor Rivera and arranging things properly, instead of filing an ejectment (against the settlers), they (San Miguel Corporation) opted to donate a 7-hectare site,” Bacar said.
Bacar also clarified that the relocation site, as per legal basis, is “cleared” or has no claimants.
The CHLMO will be tasked on overseeing the relocation of the families, including a consultation program to compel the families to relocate.
“The hardest part will be ours. We have to thoroughly explain to these families that they have to relocate,” Bacar said.
She also clarified that those who refuse to relocate will be dealt with by the court.
Mayor Rivera is clearly happy with the recent donation of San Miguel which could help solve the insufficiency of relocation areas here in Gensan.
“I know that these families have been residing on San Miguel’s private land. This relocation site will provide a ‘win-win’ alternative for them,” the mayor said.
“I also hope that San Miguel will donate more lands for the city,” Mayor Rivera added.
Currently, one of the factors the mayor is eyeing why there are a lot of informal settlers in the city is due to increasing migration pattern.
Gensan is an urbanized city being surrounded by mainly rural municipalities. This geographical scenario alone might prove that many are moving in to Gensan for better livelihood and opportunities.
Mayor Rivera would like to confirm this phenomenon through a thorough migration study to be conducted by the Sociology Faculty of the Mindanao State University – General Santos City in partnership with the City Population and Management Office.
The budget for this research was already approved by the Sangguniang Panglunsod. (Gensan CPIO/ Ian John M. Lagare)
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