Mahiga settlers want Rama to sign MOU

CEBU, Philippines - Displaced Mahiga Creek settlers yesterday trooped to City Hall bringing a copy of a draft Memorandum of Understanding they have prepared for Cebu City Mayor Michael Rama to sign.

The MOU seeks to grant the 32 families formerly living along the Mahiga Creek the assurance that they will permanently occupy the vending area that Rama earlier assigned to them.

Rama, who entertained the officers of Sitio San Isidro II Homeowners Association headed by Gemma Rosaceña only at the lobby of his office, refused to sign the MOU.

Rosaceña told reporters after meeting with Rama that the latter refused to sign the document.

The draft MOU states that the vending area should be made permanent to the 32 affected families and the agreement must be binding and enforceable whoever will take over as mayor in the future.

The other provision of the MOU is for the city government to provide communal toilets in the area to be managed by the association. They are also asking initial recovery capital for each of the affected families.

They are likewise asking the city to install lights and water facilities.

In exchanged, Rosaceña’s group promised not to use the place for dwellings and will maintain its cleanliness.

Rama earlier ordered to provide each of the affected families of the Mahiga Creek demolition a vending place outside the vicinity of the city slaughterhouse and agriculture office.

The Mayor however could not give them the assurance that they will stay there forever. (FREEMAN)