Luz demolition tomorrow

CEBU, Philippines - Thirty-two families in three sitios in Barangay Luz stand to lose their homes tomorrow after Regional Trial Court Branch 11 Judge Ramon Daomilas gave the residents only until then to voluntarily vacate the area.

“All parties are informed in advance that the May 15 deadline cannot and will not be extended,” his order read.

Earlier, Daomilas, for the second time moved the scheduled demolition to give the city government more time to relocate the affected families. 

The demolition was originally scheduled for Dec. 8, 2011 however it was moved to Jan. 5, 2012, in the spirit of compassion, then again to Mar. 12, 2012 to finish the processing of the relocation.

The residents received a notice of demolition last Nov. 3, 2011 and were given 45 days to vacate. However, due to the intervention of Mayor Michael Rama, the scheduled demolition was postponed.

Rama asked for six months to look for a relocation site but Daomilas only agreed to one month.

In an interview with The FREEMAN, Division for the Welfare of the Urban Poor chief Colin Rosell said they will discuss today what actions to take.

The affected families filed a civil case for injunction and preliminary mandatory injunction against their homeowners association seeking the partial annulment of the contracts and certificates of title.

The defendants of the case were Sitio Nangka Homeowners Association Inc., Sitio Mabuhay Homeowners Association Inc., Sitio Lubi Homeowners Association and the Province of Cebu.

The three sitios were once part of the lots covered by Provincial Ordinance 93-1 but were turned over to Cebu City through a deed of assignment issued during the time of former governor Emilio Osmeña.

Reportedly, the affected families refused to be part of the association and the Community Mortgage Program availed by their organization as they wanted to pay directly to the city government instead of paying to the association.

Of the families to be affected by the demolition, 15 are in Sitio Lubi, 11 in Sitio Mabuhay and six in Sitio Nangka.

Luz barangay captain Rian Tante said they no longer have any help to offer the affected families.

“Gipasabot na namo sila na order kana gikan sa Supreme Court; wa mi gahum mopausab sa order,” Tante said, when the residents sought assistance from the barangay.

Should the demolition push through, Tante said the most that the barangay could do is facilitate for a peaceful demolition.

He further said that they will also facilitate in transferring the affected families to the relocation sites which shall be provided by the Cebu City government through DWUP.

However, the barangay captain said they have not yet received word from the DWUP about any relocation site for the families to be affected by the demolition.

“Sila ma’y angay mupahimutang sa mga families,” he said.

Last week, a fire left more than 2,200 people homeless after destroying almost 300 houses in Barangay Luz. Sixteen of those houses were in Sitio Lubi. It was not immediately known if any of the 16 houses destroyed were also set for demolition. —/BRP (FREEMAN)