P56.7M for transfer of danger zone settlers gets council nod

CEBU, Philippines - After a series of deliberations, the Cebu City Council last week has finally approved the allocation of P56.7million for the purchase of two Barangay Kalunasan lots.

The lots would serve as relocation site for those affected by the implementation of the City’s Reduction of Danger Zones (REDZ) program.

“The city needs to provide relocation site for the families who will be affected by the implementation of the clearing of the five-meter easement of its (City) rivers and waters,” City Councilor Eugenio Gabuya said.

 Gabuya, who authored the measure for the acquisition of the lots for the City’s socialized housing program, however, said purchase of the properties is subject to availability of funds.

In its session Wednesday last week, the Council also authorized Cebu City Mayor Michael Rama to enter into and sign an agreement on behalf of the City Government with the lot owners.

The parcels of land, with an area of 22, 695 square meters are owned by heirs of Pedro Abella and Bruno Miralles.

In a Nov. 28 letter, the owners, through authorized representative Ruben Abella, expressed their intent to sell their properties at P2, 500 per square meter.

Gubuya, committee on housing chairperson, said the amount would be taken from the fund the City set aside for its socialized housing program.

Under the City’s REDZ project, clearing the Mahiga Creek of illegal structures and implementing a five-meter easement would already affect at least 4,000 families.

The REDZ project would be enforced in five waterways of the city, namely the Mahiga, Lahug, Guadalupe, Bulacao and Kinalumsan rivers.

The City Government intends to remove all illegal structures and establishments encroaching on the said rivers, in the process displacing 10,000 families.

City Hall has adopted REDZ to eliminate the risk of people losing their lives every time the said rivers overflow.

The City Attorney’s Office and the City Department for the Welfare of the Urban Poor (DWUP) have already served notices to vacate to over 100 owners of illegal structures at the Mahiga Creek. The structures include establishments that already encroached into the river.

In his measure, Gabuya cited Republic Act No. 7279, which stipulates that “the city shall uplift the conditions of the underprivileged and homeless citizens in urban areas and in resettlement areas by making available to them decent housing at affordable cost, basic services and employment opportunities.”

He further mentioned Section 10, Article II of the 1987 Constitution, which provides that “the state shall promote social justice in all phases of national development.”

Gabuya said fulfilling those provisions of the law has to have private sector cooperation in coming up with a comprehensive and continuing Urban Development and Housing program. (FREEMAN)