Urban poor group criticizes fellow informal settlers' statement vs. Jonas

CEBU, Philippines - An urban poor organization in Mahiga Creek, Mandaue City yesterday criticized its fellow informal settlers for accusing Mayor Jonas Cortes of threatening to demolish their houses and to forcibly transfer them to a relocation site in barangay Paknaan.

Ma. Luisa Lacuna, president of St. Michael Homeowners' Association based in sitio Rosal (former Philcadan area), barangay Banilad, reacted to news reports which quoted a certain Josephine Caya, reportedly of Philcadan, saying that Cortes will forcibly eject them if they won't leave Mahiga Creek. In news reports, Caya was quoted as saying that the mayor had said that the government would force them to transfer to the 6.5-hectare relocation site in Paknaan. This particular relocation site was established for families living in the danger zones particularly those residing along the Mahiga Creek and the Butuanon River.

Lacuna said their group, with 75 household-members, has volunteered to be relocated, while Caya's group has insisted to be transferred to another site. Lacuna said that the mayor, in their meeting at the Office of the Ombudman-Visayas, asked Caya's group to find another site of their choice, and the city will assist them, but allegedly, they never did .

Lacuna said she does not believe Caya could issue such statement, noting that she knows her very well being her former member. She added that Caya as far as she knows is not that literate, hence, she believes there are people who were helping her in this with the purpose to discredit the mayor and his project.

Lacuna, a real estate agent, said they have verified the records of the Register of Deeds and found out that the 6.5-hectare relocation area has a clean title. She said a big part of the area is dry land, and a land-filling activity is now under way for the low-lying portion.

Earlier, the Philcadan group of Caya, in a press statement, said that they have opposed to the planned transfer to Paknaan claiming that the relocation site is swampy.