Cabrera opposes expropriation

CEBU, Philippines - Cebu City Councilor Nida Cabrera, who was the former captain of barangay Luz and one of the leaders of the Homeowners Associations (HOAs) there, expressed her opposition to the appeal of the 32 families due for eviction for the City Government to expropriate their lots.

In a letter to the Committee on Housing, Cabrera instead upbraided the Division for the Welfare of the Urban Poor for its failure to provide relocation site to the residents that it promised the court in 2010.

“The City promised these people (the plaintiffs) with a relocation site. That is the reason why we voluntarily approved the extension of the demolition last December 2010,” Cabrera said.

“Enough time was given to them but the Division for the Welfare of the Urban Poor is not serious about this commitment to the court,” she added.

The DWUP changed leadership in May 2011. DWUP chief Collin Rossel admitted there are many things he had to fix in DWUP when he assumed.

The DWUP already submitted a list of available slots in different relocation sites of the city to the court.

But the marching order of the mayor is to exhaust all options to prevent the people from being evicted from their place because they are the original beneficiaries. Besides, the place where the court is trying to evict them is a relocation site itself.

One of the proposals to solve the case is for the city to expropriate the lot then allow the residents to pay to the city their monthly mortgage.

The residents asked the City Council through Vice Mayor Joy Augustus Young to make legislation for the expropriation. The expropriation would warrant an ordinance.

The affected residents would rather pay directly to the city than be members and pay to the HOAs.

“While other members are diligently paying their monthly amortization, here are non-members, the plaintiffs, campaigned to other members not to pay their monthly amortization. Are we in favor of this limited few? Is the City serious in implementing our housing program?” Cabrera said.

Cabrera also reminded the city that the City Government is one of the defendants in the case.

Rossel said that he will ask the City Legal Office to file a motion in court where the city can withdraw as a defendant in the case.

He said it is to concretize their efforts in helping the residents. — (FREEMAN)