Rama urged to ‘stop demolitions’

CEBU, Philippines - A local urban poor group yesterday staged a prayer rally outside the Cebu City Hall urging Mayor Michael Rama to approve the ordinance that seeks to temporarily suspend clearing operations in the city.

The ordinance, which was approved by the council last month, is still waiting for the signature of Rama, who missed yesterday’s activity since he was in Manila for an official business.

“We heard nga posibleng dili ipapasar ni Mayor Rama tungod kay for one thing or another, siguro aduna silay kalahian diha sa sulod (sa gobiyerno). Pero gusto namo ipaagi sa among panagtigom nga mapahimangno siya nga ang pinakarason nga naa siya sa kagamhanan mao ang pagserbisyo sa katawhan,” said KILUSAN-Cebu spokeswoman Emalyn Aliviano.

The ordinance sponsored by Councilor Alvin Dizon, chairman of the committee on housing, would provide a one-year moratorium on demolitions to give the city government time to look for relocation site for those informal settlers whose houses are due for demolition.

Rama, when sought for his view, said the ordinance has to undergo thorough review as it might go against national laws. He has forwarded the matter to the City Legal Office.

But the urban poor activists left a written appeal to “enlighten” the city mayor.

“Wala’y maayong rason nga dili kini apruba-han sa mayor kay obligas-yon kini niya isip amahan sa siyudad ug labaw sa tanan, interest kini sa katawhan tungod kay katungod kini nato isip tawo nga adunay dignidad; dili kita hayop nga puwede lang sa bisan asa magpuyo,” read their appeal.

KILUSAN-Cebu said proper dwelling is one of the fundamental rights, even to the underprivileged, but Rama’s administration and policies had actually resulted to several clearing operations in the city, some of them illegal.

Among others, the group cited the case of informal settlers in Warwick Barracks, Carbon Market which was hit by fire in January last year.

“Wala na sila gipabalik sa maong luna kon asa sila tawhanong nagpa-kabuhi, ug ang sobrang panimalay nga wala masunog, gi-demolish sab. Hantod karon nagpabiling nakigbisog ug naghandom ang mga taga Warwick Barracks nga sila mahataga’g hustisya tu-ngod kay katungod sa kapuy-an ug panginabuhian mismo ang gihikaw sa ilaha,” the group said.

Same situation, the group added, was experienced by illegal settlers and ambulant vendors at South Bus Terminal and Doña Pepang Cemetery, and in barangays Mahiga, Lorega-San Miguel, Apas, Kamagayan, Inayawan, and Sambag 1. — May B. Miasco/NSA (FREEMAN)