Unpaid rentals may displace T. Padilla fire victims

CEBU, Philippines – About 78 of the more than 700 families who were left homeless during the T. Padilla fire will not be allowed to rebuild their houses because of their alleged failure to pay the rentals of the lot.

T. Padilla Barangay Captain Michael Rallota said the heirs of Don Tereso Villa, who own the more or less five to six hectares property occupied by the fire victims, will not allow those who did not pay their monthly rentals for the past 10 years.

"Naay posibilidad nga ang uban dili na makabalik kay naa pa sila'y pending rentals nga dako kaayo. Ang uban nila mikabat na sa P200,000. Ambot unsa-on na nato," Rallota said.

There were 786 families affected by the fire in April 9, about five to 10 percent of them have not been paying their rentals to the lot owners. Based on their memorandum of agreement with the heirs, they will pay a monthly rental of P1,500 for every 25 square meter of the lot they occupied.

Most of the victims however will be given at least 25 to 50 square meters where they could rebuild their houses.

The Cebu City Government and the owners of the lot have already agreed to a private-public partnership. A memorandum of agreement for the purpose is already being prepared for signing. In fact, the city council has already given Mayor Michael Rama the authority to enter into the MOA.

Part of the partnership is for the city government to ensure a 10-meter road easement in the interior roads for access in case of fire.

The city government will conduct today a survey to the site for the re-blocking and the widening of the interior roads. Those who will be found to have records in the barangay like involvement in the illegal drugs and illegal wiretapping will not be given a barangay clearance for the re-blocking, which means that they could not also rebuild their houses.  (FREEMAN)