Bago families get lots, houses from EDC

SEVEN families from Barangay Mailum in Bago City recently received individual titles of farm lot, and house and lot from the Energy Development Corporation (EDC).

This is part of the resettlement package for families who were relocated to the said barangay during the development of the company’s North Negros Geothermal project.

Nenita Zamora, one of the recipients who spoke during the turnover rites, said they expected to be awarded only the titles to the farm lots. They were surprised to learn that they would be receiving a house and lot as well.

The recipients are the first batch of the 29 relocated families to comply with the requirements for land transfer and resettlement guidelines and agreements.

Norreen Bautista, head of EDC’S Corporate Social Responsibility-negros, congratulated the beneficiaries and urged other recipient-families to complete the land transfer requirements.

Bautista was joined by their Asset Management and Disposal head Lauriano Silagan, and Community Partnerships-negros head Myrissa Tabao.

Under the package, EDC is giving one-hectare resettlement site where each homeowner will be provided a core house on a 200-square meter lot.

The site has also been developed and provided with a multi-purpose hall, basketball court, 12 deep wells, an electric distribution system, and access road.

Of the 29 farmland owners, 16 already received a half-hectare farm lot each, While, each of the remaining 13 received a one-hectare lot, the areas equal to the farm lots affected by the development.

EDC, in a statement, said it followed the International Finance Corporation-world Bank (IFC-WB) standards in providing compensation and replacing lost structures, amenities and livelihood.

Mailum Punong Barangay Roger Kirk Torres, for his part, stressed the need for other beneficiaries to complete the requirements and promised to help facilitate the process./ EPN