Demolition signals start of Tejero creek beautification

CEBU, Philippines - The Cebu City government has made the first move in paving the way for a clean and beautiful creek in Barangay Tejero.

As a start-up, a team from the Prevention, Restoration, Order, Beautification and Enforcement (PROBE) yesterday demolished four houses situated above the creek and restored eight other houses across it.

“The city government will beautify this creek so atong sugdan sa pagtangtang aning mga shanties kay di man malimpyo kung naa pa ilang presence. (We will start by removing the shanties because the creek will not be clean if we don’t remove them),” said PROBE Head Raquel Arce.

Starting at 1 pm, the clearing team gradually demolished the shanties constructed beside the creek and on the concrete pavements above it.

Houses and eateries at the other side of the road, which extended beyond the 1.5-meter easement, were also restored, including the protruding canopies.

Arce, who supervised the demolition, said they will then have the road asphalted within a week after yesterday’s demolition.

The city government will then install lights and construct railings at the roadside, adorn the area with ornamental plants and finally clear the creek of garbage and mud before the year ends, Arce added.  These improvements, she further said, is part of the beautification program of Mayor Michael Rama, who ordered the demolition back when she was not the head of PROBE yet.

Arce said the owners of the illegal structures were already given final notices last week. If not for typhoon Pablo, the houses would have been demolished last Monday.

“Ato na silang gitagaan og tagal. Na-postpone pa gani ang demolition. Wa ta’y choice kundi tangtangon g’yud ni kay naa ma’y demolition order. (We already gave them enough time. The demolition was even postponed. We don’t have a choice but to remove the structures because there are demolition orders),” she said.

Three policemen from the Waterfront Police Station were deployed at the area to serve as crowd control in case a commotion happens during the demolition.

There was no resistance from the affected families.

However, Irene Cogal, 42, one of the owners of the demolished houses, complained to Arce when his whole house was torn down.

Cogal said Mayor Rama visited their area two weeks ago and agreed not to destroy the entirety of his house where he also sells goods as a living.

“Kay kung wala pa miingon si Mayor ana, dili unta ko magpalit og bag-ong hardiflex para itaod sa among bongbong. Mas labaw pa diay hinuon kang Mayor ani? (If the Mayor did not agree, I wouldn’t have bought a new Hardiflex for our wall. Are you above the mayor in this case?)” Cogal said, referring to Arce.

Cogal further said that he is working on a written agreement with Mayor Rama and Arce’s team just immediately demolished his house yesterday.

“Unya sir, mao man usab order ni Mayor sa akoa nga i-demolish tibuok balay. Tagai sa ko og proof nga miingon si Mayor ana nimo. (The mayor ordered for your whole house to be demolished. Give me proof first of your agreement with the mayor),” Arce answered.

In the end, Cogal wasn’t able to do anything and just started gathering their things with the help of his wife and three children.

“Mangatog lang usa mi diri unyang gabie. (We will just sleep here tonight),” he said.

The city government is not offering any relocation site for the affected families, Arce said.

Nevertheless, through a written agreement, Arce granted the request of the house owners to let them keep the construction materials, provided that they will never construct their shelter in the same area again. Otherwise, these will be confiscated, Arce said. — (FREEMAN)