Mayor Rama eases rtension in Lahug

CEBU, Philippines - Mayor Michael Rama quickly responded to diffuse tension in Barangay Lahug on Tuesday night between residents and a private land owner who closed the right of way situated inside his property along Gorordo Avenue.

 Land owner Mario Espinosa was invited by the mayor to a meeting at the City Hall yesterday and explained to him that although he is the owner of the lot, Espinosa should provide the public with a right of way within his property.

  Espinosa at first tried to convince the mayor that what he did was legal because he was able to secure a permit from the Office of the Building Official (OBO) allowing him to construct the fence that closed the right of way of people living in the interior portion.

 Rama inspected the place Tuesday midnight  and found that while there is a right of way for those residing in the interior portion of Sitios Sta Catalina and San Vicente, they would need to walk farther to reach the main road.

 “Gawas nga layo-layo na ang ilang laktonon, duna pa g’yud silay agianan nga magtakilid ka nga lisud g’yud ang pag-agi kon aduna kay dala,” Rama explained to reporters. (Aside from the longer distance they would have to take, there is a narrow portion which makes it difficult for people especially if they are bringing some things.)

 The mayor instructed City Engineer Kenneth Carmelita Enriquez, the acting head of OBO, to first conduct ocular inspection once somebody applies for a fencing permit to ensure that nobody would be affected.

 Rama was able to convince Espinosa to remove the galvanized iron that he used to block the right of way because the permit that was issued by the OBO will be temporarily suspended.

 The mayor instructed Cebu City police director Melvin Ramon Buenafe to assign policemen in the area to respond in case of trouble. He also requested that an ambulance and a fire truck will be detailed in the place.

 “Kinahanglan nga dunay mga polis nga makapakgang kon may kagubot, unya ambulansya nga magamit ug trak sa bombero kay basin dunay sunog,” Rama said. The place is situated beside the Lahug river just across the Mormon’s Temple along Gorordo Avenue. — (FREEMAN)