Donate Capitol lot for Mahiga settlers: Governor says Provincial Government is willing to help

CEBU, Philippines - Affected families of the clearing operation in Mahiga Creek, particularly sitio San Isidro II, met with Cebu City Mayor Michael Rama yesterday to ask him to allow them to rebuild their structures along the creek so they can continue with their livelihood.

But Rama stands firm on his decision, reiterating that residents affected by the clearing will be relocated once the city is able to develop their relocation sites and build new housing projects with the help of the National Government.

In fact, he said, he already asked Governor Gwendolyn Garcia to donate the provincial lot located near the Mahiga creek in Banilad so it can be converted into a medium-rise housing project.

This was among the things he discussed with Vice President and Housing and Urban Development Coordinating Council (HUDCC) Chairman Jejomar C. Binay and Garcia during their meeting in Manila last Wednesday.

Rama said that apart from the 93-1 concern, they talked about the Mahiga settlers and his proposed Kamagayan housing project to rise on the Citicenter Complex.

The HUDCC, Rama said, will be sending a team of research experts to conduct a study about the 93-1 issue to identify a holistic solution to the problem.

Garcia confirmed that their meeting with Binay was focused on Cebu City’s problem on informal settlers

The Province of Cebu is willing to extend assistance as it has available property to offer to the city in solving the problem of the informal settlers. The cooperation between the City and Province were demonstrated in the meeting.

“We were able to give that message to the Vice President, who appreciated the very good working relationship between the city and the province,” Garcia said.

The whole gamut of the different problems could not be explained in one meeting, she said, “But he was given the overview of the entire picture and what was best emphasized there was the city and the province are working hand in hand here.”

Garcia and Rama decided to meet Binay in Manila after the latter proposed joint housing project of the two local government units for informal settlers.

Garcia said she initially discussed the matter with Binay during the general membership meeting of the Cebu Chamber of Commerce last May 21, 2011 at the Radisson Blu Hotel where the Vice President was guest of honor.

Rama proposed a partnership between the City Government and the Provincial Government in giving relocation sites to the informal settlers around the city.

 Garcia said the Province is more than ready to offer its assistance, she however suggested that an inventory should be conducted to determine the exact number of informal settlers.

 She is willing to work with Rama in finding solutions to the increasing number of informal settlers in the city, especially in the high risk areas.

 The proposed partnership was also discussed during the Metro Cebu Development and Coordinating Board (MCDCB) meeting. Garcia said this project demonstrates the logic and the need why the two LGUs need to have a joint effort

 At the City Hall, the mayor was a bit surprised why the residents are now negotiating with the city when they are the same people who sued him in court.

Sitio San Isidro II Neighborhood and Homeowners Association, Inc. President Gemma Rosaceña could not provide a clear answer on why they are trying to negotiate with the City Government pending the case they filed in court.

They did not also say if they are willing to withdraw the case they filed against the mayor with the help of Pagtambayayong Foundation Inc.

“Depende lang unsa ang resulta sa atong husay diri, amo ning ipaabot sa among mga leader para sila na ang mu-decide,” she said.

During the meeting yesterday, they asked Mayor Rama to stop the clearing operation and allowed them to rebuild their structures which are mostly used as eateries, mini stores, vulcanizing shops and other small businesses.

But the mayor was firm that any structure will no longer be allowed to occupy the area that is within the three-meter easement zone and at least two meters from the road for the sidewalk.

Rama said it is not enough to clear only the easement area as he has to put a sidewalk for the pedestrian. He, however, clarified that while he will not allow them to occupy the easement area and the sidewalk, he is not preventing them from earning a living.

The mayor said if the residents are after their livelihood, he already instructed the office-in-charge of all the vendors to find an area within the same sitio where they can be temporarily relocated.

Rama emphasized the word temporary because he said the City will think of a better solution to address their livelihood concerns soon.

Last week, the residents affected by the clearing operation in Mahiga received P8,000 cash assistance from Rep. Tomas Osmeña and Rep. Cutie del Mar.

But officials from City Hall criticized the residents saying that after receiving financial assistance from the two representatives, they went back to City Hall still asking the mayor to stop the demolition and allow them to rebuild their structures, defeating the purpose of the assistance. (FREEMAN)