Solon seeks probe on sale of gov’t-funded houses

Photos of some of the housing units being sold are even posted in social media sites with the corresponding price and the person to be contacted. (Photo by TheCoffee, CC BY-SA 3.0)

ZAMBOANGA CITY — The National Housing Authority (NHA) has been urged to investigate the sale of houses built through the Zamboanga City Roadmap to Recovery and Reconstruction (Z3R) in this city.

Second District Rep. Manuel Jose Dalipe on Thursday made the call for investigation following reports that some of the Z3R houses’ occupants are selling the housing units they received from the government.

Photos of some of the housing units being sold are even posted in social media sites with the corresponding price and the person to be contacted.

The city government has so far recorded eight cases of attempts to sell houses built through the Z3R.

Dalipe noted the Z3R houses were built by the NHA for the victims of the 2013 Zamboanga siege. It is a low-cost housing project with the condition the beneficiaries cannot sell the housing units.

Yahya Abdusalam, Z3R focal person, said the houses that were reportedly placed on sale are within the Vale Vista housing project in Barangay Kasanyangan.

But Abdusalam said the occupants of the houses denied that they are selling their housing units when they conducted an on-site investigation.

He said the certificate of award will automatically be canceled if proven the Z3R housing beneficiary is selling his or her housing unit.

He said they will be also disqualified perpetually to benefit in any of the government housing program.

Dalipe said the beneficiaries should not sell the houses since it was given by the government as their permanent shelter.