Urban groups ask Mandaue for help

CEBU, Philippines - Two urban poor groups asked Wednesday the Mandaue City government to stop the impending demolition of their houses and find ways to purchase for them the lot where their houses stand.

The urban poor groups, namely, San Vicente Ferrer Homeowners Association (SVFHA) from barangay Banilad and the Tipolo Birhen sa Fatima Livelihood Association (TBFLA) from barangay Tipolo wherein their leaders were attended the regular council session of the city council last Wednesday.

SVFHA president Jimmy Saromines said they asked the city council to declare the 8,000-square meter private lot occupied by 110 homeowners in sitio Sampaguita Backshell in Banilad as a socialized housing site.

He said these residents have been occupying the lot since 1990.

Saromines, in an interview, said declaring the lot as a socialized housing site will prevent the demolition of their houses.

Negotiations between the lot owner and the city government for the lot acquisition can then start as well, he said.

Residents were given until Dec. 31 last year to voluntarily demolish their homes.

Saromines said their houses can be demolished as soon as the court issues a writ of demolition.

TBFLA vice president Nenita Rubio said 42 families who have been paying land rental since 1950 will be displaced once the court orders the demolition of houses occupying the 1,053-square meter Basubas compound in Tipolo.

Rubio said the court gave the residents until Dec. 12 last year to voluntarily demolish their houses but they appealed to the court to give them until the end of classes in March so as not to disrupt their children's studies.

Mayor Jonas Cortes, in an interview with reporters, said the city will do its best to help the residents.

He  said he will task the City Housing and Urban Development Office to study what assistance the city can give to the homeowners.

Saromines said they hope the city government will take steps to acquire the lot for them in which the city and the homeowners will later talk about the payment scheme.

During last Wednesday session, the home homeowners endorsed to the city council the letter coming from HUDO which declared their respective places as socialized housing sites.

However, the city council did not immediately act on it but instead endorsed their letter to the committee on Urban planning, development and socialized housing chaired by Councilor Diosdado Suico for study and comment.  (FREEMAN)