Lot owners allow informal settlers to rebuild homes

CEBU, Philippines - Informal settlers who lost their homes recently to a fire in sitio Kamansi in barangay Paknaan in Mandaue City can reconstruct their houses on the condition that they agree to some regulations private lot owners wish to enforce.

Although a portion of the affected lot is government property, which is being utilized as a relocation site, the bulk of it is owned by four private owners.

Barangay Paknaan captain Malaquias Soco said lot owners James Lee, Bonifacio Cabahug, Richard Ng, and Elma Sanchez have given their consent to fire victims to return but they asked them to comply with new rules and to pay their rentals religiously.

The lot owners were at first hesitant to allow the 113 informal settlers to return because only about 30 percent of them pay their rent promptly.

Soco said that of the four lot owners, Lee and Cabahug own more of the property.

Soco said settlers who live on the lot owned by Lee, through their association and with the assistance of the lot owner, have started a re-blocking scheme.

The barangay captain said he is now negotiating with the other lot owners for a widening of an access road from the highway.

When fire broke out last May 23, fire trucks failed to penetrate the area because of the narrow access road.

A total of 239 houses were destroyed, affecting 371 house owners and 32 renters. (FREEMAN)