30 shanties near SRP demolished

The Cebu City government went ahead with the demolition of 30 of the 300 identified illegal structures in sitio Pagatpat, barangay Mambaling, near the South Road Properties yesterday morning.

Together with the Squatter Prevention and Encroachment Elimination Division and the Department of Welfare for Urban Poor, the demolition team tore down mostly shanties along said area near the University of Cebu-Maritime Education Training Center campus.

Mayor Tomas Osmeña signed the order for the demolition of the 300 illegal structures to make SRP more attractive to investors and conducive to business and commercial opportunities, SPEED operation chief Frank Gajudo said.

City Hall is now strengthening its beautification works along the SRP highway.

After the 30 shanties, SPEED said they are to demolish another 86 shanties in the area.

There was no resistance from residents of the shanties yesterday but some did heckle SPEED workers while others asked for an extension.

"Mag-agad ra gyud mi sa availability sa funds sa City Hall, kon naa nay money that's the time ato ipaguba ang kadto nahibiling mga barong-barong," Gajudo said.

Several staff of the DWUP were also monitoring the demolition of shanties yesterday morning.

Calixta Abella of DWUP said most of the owners of affected families already availed of the P10,000 disturbance fee.

"Amo man na sila gipapili kon relocation site or bayad disturbance fee ba. Kasagaran nila ni-avail sa bayad," Abella said.

Only 100 families availed of the relocation sites in barangays Kinasang-an and Pardo. - Ramil V. Ayuman