Notices to vacate Mahiga out tomorrow

CEBU, Philippines - The Cebu City Government is set to issue notices to vacate to all the 142 owners of the illegal structures in Mahiga Creek tomorrow.

The City Legal Office and the Department for the Welfare of the Urban Poor (DWUP) will serve the notices, said the Reduction of Danger Zones (REDZ) project chairman, former councilor Joey Daluz.

“There is no impediment already as accordance to our City Legal Officer to remove these illegal structures kay nidaog naman ta sa atong case,” said Daluz.

To recall, the Ombudsman dismissed the administrative and civil cases last January 30, 2013 filed against Cebu City Mayor Michael Rama, Alvin Santillan, Noel Artes and Harold Alcontin by the former residents along Mahiga Creek.

The Regional Trial Court also dismissed the petition for injunction last August 24, 2012.

According to Daluz they will talk to the families and will conduct series of meetings to discuss regarding the assistance that will be given by the city government.

“Without any promise of assistance yet but we are willing to talk with the owners. Case to case bases ang paghatag og assistance kay naa  may uban nga sakyanan ang gi-request pagbalhin sa mga butang, so di lang sa ta mo-across the board nga we will give this and that ,” Daluz said.

Daluz said that they will also send notices of violations to all establishments encroaching in the five rivers of Mahiga, Lahug, Guadalupe, Bulacao and Kinalumsan and give them due process.

“Then they have to answer us, basig nasayop mi. If we’re not satisfied with their answers, then we’ll file a case against them. We don’t have all the answers, but sige lang basta we are making some improvements because this abuse has been there for 20 to 30 years and it cannot be solved within two to three years,” Daluz said.

Daluz on the other hand also instructed Department of Engineering and Public Works (DEPW) to make a road at block 27 at the North Reclamation area.

“This week they will make the road and we have to put embankment at five-meter easement before the Mahiga Creek, but it will be a dirt road first basta naa lang ta’y masugdan,” Daluz added.— (FREEMAN)