Amid capitol’s call to vacate: DA compound settlers insist on staying

CEBU, Philippines - Despite being told to vacate the government-owned property before this month ends, informal settlers occupying the areas at the Department of Agriculture-7 are still firm on their decision not to leave the area.

Capitol’s Real Properties Protection Task Force reported that the said occupants did not heed their advice to vacate the property.

“Kagabii miagi ko wa may sign nga mohawa sila…They should not prevent us from using the government buildings. Kinahanglan na gyud sila mohawa kay gamiton na sa government. Those are for offices dili na siya homes,” said Loy Anthony Madrigal, chief of Squatting Prevention and Demolition Division.

He said that he has submitted a report to the Provincial Legal Office and is now waiting for the office’s guidance on their next step.

Provincial Legal Officer Orvi Ortega, however, has yet to read Madrigal’s report.

The property located along M. Velez Street is owned by the provincial government. Capitol reportedly took over the property on July 23, 2010.

A total of 22 buildings were mounted at the DA-7 compound while only five of it are being utilized by its offices, and six are padlocked. However, an undetermined number of families already occupied the remaining 11 buildings.

There are reportedly 63 informal settlers which have been utilizing some areas in the compound.

Madrigal reported that a notice was also posted by the said occupants stating that they will not vacate the area because the property is still under litigation.

Cebu Provincial Government is set to invite the informal settlers occupying the compound next week.

In a separate interview, Carlos Lucero, 57, president of Department of Agriculture Cebu Breeding Residents Association Inc. said he does not know the alleged illegal occupants in the former DA compound.

DACBRAI is currently made up of 80 families who live around the perimeter of the compound. Lucero has been living in the compound for 40 years now.

Lucero said that the first residents of the compound were workers of then Bureau of Animal Industry who had to take care of the animals in site.

“It is Capitol who alleged na naa nisulod sa building sa bakante na building. Ang makahatag gyud ana nga information, ang nag-allege. Niingon man na sila nga nay illegal settlers, sila makasulti asa man, kinsa man,” said Lucero.

Lucero said that those who occupied the vacant DA building is not members of DACBRAI.

“Whatever they say about those people na namuyo diha, para nako sa ila na na, Dili ko manghilabot. Sila na ang mo-discipline or whatever sa mga tao na nianha diha,” Lucero added.

His group is now guarding the former National Meat Inspection Services building since there have been “persons with suspicious reasons.”

“Late last year until now, sige naay moanhi na mag-sukod-sukod nga mosulti na gamiton na nila ang building,” said Lucero.

He added that there were people, driving vehicles with private plate numbers, who looked at the building and did not give out any names. — Michael Vencynth H. Braga, Correspondent and  Sherwin Oro Gabrinez, UP MassComm Intern/JMD (FREEMAN)