Rama to national gov’t: Fund project

CEBU, Philippines -  Mayor Michael Rama yesterday challenged the national government to have the political will in funding its thrust to free shorelines of residents before another calamity occurs.

Rama said the national government should allocate its “billions” to local government units, especially that it is the LGUs that really know the specific concerns.

One solution the government found to avoid deaths in times of natural calamities is to move people away from shorelines. It can be recalled that thousands have died during a storm surge in Leyte that occurred at the height of super typhoon Yolanda.

DENR’s “no-build zone” policy requires a 40-meter hazard zone in coastal areas.

“Asa man ang kwarta sa national (government)? Ipakanaog na dire because we know better asa ang alegrahon. Let that billions go down before there’s another malady and condemnation (that) fall upon us,” Rama said.

Cebu City has 16 coastal areas and five rivers namely Mahiga, Guadalupe, Kinalumsan, Lahug and Bulacao.

Rama’s consultant and chairman of the city’s Land Management Council, Atty. Jade Ponce, said the city government actually supports the DENR policy. In fact, the city pushes for a three-meter easement in riverbanks.

For its part, the city will do its best to find a suitable relocation site for affected families.

Rama said the DENR and the city’s Department of Engineering Public Works (DEPW) have his blessings to beautify coastal areas, to revitalize the downtown area, and to make the uptown area progressive. He said there should be a balance between development and environmental preservation.

Meanwhile, the city’s Land Management Council has questioned DENR’s decision to grant a land title to a family living at the South Road Properties (SRP) access road in Barangay Mambaling. 

The subject land is reportedly a subject of a case before DENR.

“In the course with our engagement sa LMC, daghan ming na-diskobrehan nga pataka lang og rehistro sa miaging adlaw, nga basta lang mo-isyu og titulo (In the course of our engagement with LMC, we found out that there were careless issuances of titles),” Ponce said.

Ponce said they are now coordinating with the Cebu City Environmental and Natural Resources Office (CCENRO) to conduct a proper survey.  (FREEMAN)