Panay reviews illegal occupants in housing project

By Felipe V. Celino

ROXAS CITY, Capiz — Mayor Jonathan “Sonny” Besa said he was dismayed after learning that most occupants of the Panay Housing Ville are not legitimate beneficiaries.

Based on a report from the National Housing Authority, only 471 of the 1,500 occupants are legitimate Panay residents, meaning 1,029, or more than two-thirds, are considered illegal occupants.

The local government of Panay recently created a Local Inter-Agency Committee, together with the NHA, to re-evaluate the status of occupants in the housing project and ensure they qualify for units.

Following the discovery, the Sangguniang Bayan of Panay passed two resolutions, one creating an occupancy policy adopted from the NHA after supervision of the housing project was turned over to the local government, and another formally accepting the NHA findings from the Jan. 21–23, 2026, re-evaluation.

Besa said the illegal occupants were identified through a stricter review of the housing project’s resident list.

A homeowners association will also be formed to help identify other issues involving the housing project and support the removal of illegitimate occupants.

The NHA is the government agency tasked with managing and disposing of housing and resettlement projects.