Squatters to demolish own houses near creek

CEBU, Philippines - Four families living in sitio Marna in barangay Subangdaku, Mandaue City have expressed assurance they themselves will demolish their houses today.

This was announced by Subangdaku barangay Captain Ernie Manatad yesterday who said their houses are scheduled for demolition at 9 a.m. today.

Manatad said family members went to his house to assure him they were demolishing their houses voluntarily.

Manatad said these families were just among the more than 1,500 families living along the Mahiga creek who assured him they wanted to set a good example.

The city government wants to clear areas near rivers and creeks of informal settlers to prevent flooding.

Mahiga Residence and Neighborhood Association (MARNA) president Angelita Teope said the houses that will be demolished today belong to Marissa Manayon, Lourdes Juresamo, Nonoy Custodio, and Daniel Carollo.

Sitio Marna is located near the Cebu City abattoir which borders Mandaue and Cebu cities.

Their families' assurance came two days after a consultation for informal settlers living along the Mahiga creek was held last Friday to discuss issues concerning the scheduled demolition, relocation, and financial assistance.

The informal settlers were also told that the law prohibits structures within three meters from the river and the city will now implement the three meter easement.

Manatad said since the city government cannot yet provide any relocation site for these affected families who have shown their willingness to tear down their own houses at the Mahiga creek, the families have agreed instead to move a few meters away from the bank of the creek in compliance with the three-meter easement.

However, Manatad also assured that these three families will either be relocated or given financial assistance once the city government arrive at a decision.

Manatad said the families were original members of the Mahiga Residence Neighborhood Association (MARNA), having lived in the area for the past 30 years.

Manatad said at present they are still in the process of collating and identifying the exact number of informal settlers living along the Mahiga creek as the previous administration of former Subangdaku barangay Captain Walter Dy failed to turn over the data base which collates the informal settlers in the area.

Today's demolition will be witnessed by Manatad himself and some officials and personnel from the Housing and Urban Development Office (Hudo).