City pays disturbance fee to families living near CCMC

CEBU, Philippines - The Cebu City government, through the Department of Social Welfare and Services, paid P170,000 disturbance pay to the 17 families in Barangay Pahina Central affected by the ongoing construction of the new Cebu City Medical Center.

The affected families recently agreed to move 1.5 meters away from the perimeter wall that divides the residential area and the construction site of the CCMC as long as the city provides financial assistance.

Each family received P10,000 last Thursday.

With the city fulfilling its part of the deal, the Department of Engineering and Public Works is urging the families to remove their houses voluntarily since the hospital’s contractor will demolish the wall anytime.

The CCMC special project management team, led by DEPW Head Engineer Jose Marie Poblete, earlier tapped DSWS to assess the structures and set aside financial aid for the affected residents.

The team, with Poblete designated as project manager, is tasked to supervise the construction of CCMC’s first phase, resol-ving issues at the site to avoid delays in the completion of the project.

“We encouraged them (families) to voluntarily remove their own structures to lessen the damage and to transfer their houses 1.5 away from the wall… The residents should not wait that the engineers will have to remove their houses,” he told reporters after the third meeting last Thursday afternoon.

“Initially, we agreed that we will notify them a week earlier before the wall’s demolition but right now, we have agreed that it is better if they will have to move back 1.5 meters away from the wall at once,” he added.

The contractor, Manila-based C.E. Padilla Construction Incorporated, has not yet given a schedule as to when it will demolish the wall but already provided a line for the 1.5-meter setback.

“But pressure will come when the contractor will tell us (DEPW) that they will need to demolish the wall already. And we cannot delay the schedule of the contractor… That is why we have to exert pressure on the affected families,” said Poblete.

The concern on the need to remove the perimeter wall was raised after the contractor’s heavy equipment had a difficulty penetrating the side area. But then destroying the wall will hit some structures attached to it and even those nearby.

The engineering team assured that a temporary wall will be put in place to ensure the safety of the residents from falling debris.

Once the footing of the CCMC building is erected, the project’s contractor will reconstruct the perimeter wall, which reportedly can withstand calamities such as an earthquake.

This construction work alone is projected to be finished in six months. — May B. Miasco/ATO(FREEMAN)