Council to hear sentiments of Apas folks

CEBU, Philippines - The Cebu City Council has scheduled an executive session on February 26 to listen to the sentiments of 157 families whose houses in Sitio San Miguel, Barangay Apas are set to be demolished.

At least 937 houses are set to be demolished morning on March 4.

The families who are affected by the court-ordered demolition have lived in the barangay for 20 to 30 years already.

The executive session on February 26 also aims to discuss and clarify certain issues with the homeowners.

Apas Barangay Captain Ramil Ayuman said the affected residents are set to file a Petition of Certiorari to stop the demolition.

Last February 17, Ayuman joined the residents in a pre-demolition conference at the office of the Presidential Commission for the Urban Poor (PCUP) during which the residents and concerned departments of the city government were briefed on demolition guidelines.

During that time, some of the resident raised legal questions but were told to address the concerns to the court.

Ayuman revealed their plan to file a petition before the court after a meeting with the Local Housing Board and the City’s Division for the Welfare of the Urban Poor (DWUP).

The board also agreed to request the City Council to “urgently conduct an investigation on the demolition issue and previously identified socialized housing sites (lots 942 and 947).”

DWUP chief, Collin Rosell, assured that the city government  will  help the affected residents. —JMO (FREEMAN)