Following urban poor groups’ clamor: Ordinance on demolition moratorium to be refiled

CEBU, Philippines - The proposed ordinance seeking a one-year moratorium on city-ordered demolitions will be reintroduced following the clamor of urban poor groups in Cebu City.

Councilor Alvin Dizon, who heads the council’s committee on housing, said he will file again his proposed measure, which did not get Mayor Michael Rama’s support and has failed to get majority of the votes from fellow council members to override the mayor’s veto.

Dizon hopes that it will be eventually approved by the council.

“I am to make an appeal nga tagaan og due consideration ang atong ordinance,” he said.

During yesterday’s regular session of the council, among the agenda taken were the written communications from urban poor activists stating their views on the ordinance.

Dizon formally asked to suspend the legislature’s house rules to pave the way for some representatives to express verbally their sentiments.

He set aside talks that he is being politically motivated to push for the ordinance’s passage, stressing that it is a plea from thousands of informal settlers in the city.

 “Convenient man nga excuse nga gipasar ni nato kay moingon dayon na sila nga namolitika ko ba. So to prove them that there’s no politics here, gusto lang gyud nato i-uphold ang housing rights sa mga tawo so I am supporting the clamor of the people to reintroduce this ordinance,” the councilor said.

He further said that with its passage, the city will have more time to prepare for suitable development sites for informal settlers.

Urban poor groups

Representatives from different organizations and urban poor groups in Cebu City yesterday appealed before the council to have the ordinance re-filed.

Emilyn Alviano from the Kilusan para sa Pambansang Demokrasya said that on behalf of their association, they are requesting the council to approve the re-filing of the ordinance and not to follow the decision of Rama who vetoed the moratorium last month.

 “Sa tanang konsehal, hoping nga ang pagtalikod ni suspended Mayor Rama sa amoa or ang pag-veto dili unta ingon nga pareho ang desisyon sa mga konsehales nga naa dinhi tungod kay ang laman sa among sulat kay ang paghangyo lang og simple nga kahupayan  ug dili paggapos sa kamot sa lokal nga kagamhanan,” Alviano read her message.

Alviano stressed they will not stop pursuing for the ordinance, citing their right to live peacefully and to gain respect as humans and as taxpayers.

“Kami dili mi mohunong kung dili ni mahatag sa amoa, bisag sa kasumaran man lang sa Pasko, o bisan pag-ila man lang nga kami representation sa kabos, naa mi katungod nga naa mi kapuy-an,” she said.

A representative from KAISA-KA (Unity of Woman for Freedom), Rosita Blando, said that as a mother, she can feel the difficulty of the urban poor.

“Ingnon lang gani nako sila nga papahawaon na, matag gabii maglisod na sila’g katog. Bisag ako nakasinati sad ko ana, mao na akong simpatiya nga gusto g’yud nako nga mapatuman nga bisag usa lang ka-tuig nga moratorium sa demolisyon, okay na lang,” a teary-eyed Blando said.

Teody Navea, secretary of Sanlakas Sugbo, said they are also aiming for due consideration from the council.

“I think one year would be enough because we know that the city government is not yet ready. Unsaon nato pag-relocate kung wala ta’y pondo. We always think positive about this; maayo unta aprobahan sa city council,” he said.

He said a special session about the proposed measure will be held on Monday and all of the urban poor organizations are hoping that the administration of acting Mayor Edgardo Labella will approve it. — (FREEMAN)