CEBU, Philippines – Officials of the Cebu City government, Province of Cebu, and University of the Philippines Cebu have talked on Monday and came up with a win-win solution for the fire victims in Sitio Avocado, Barangay Lahug.
Cebu City lawyer Jerone Castillo said UP Cebu has agreed to let the residents stay at the fire-stricken area temporarily while the relocation site is being developed.
As to how long the residents could stay in the UP-owned lot, Castillo said it is yet to be discussed.
“We agreed very well that the intention of UP is to add more high school buildings. That they are also running out of time kay dapat na i-implement ang program. We also feel for UP, but in the meantime, amo sad siyang gipasabot nga we can’t just remove these people summarily,” he said.
Apart from Castillo, the meeting held at the office of UP Cebu Dean Liza Corro was attended by City Administrator Lucelle Mercado, Division for the Welfare of the Urban Poor head lawyer Collin Rosell, and Provincial administrator Mark Tolentino.
“I-reblock lang nato aron dili na mabalik. We will work on the relocation and hopefully we will have a livable condition there,” said Castillo.
He said a memorandum of agreement has been prepared and will be entered into by the Province of Cebu, which owns the two-hectare lot in Barangay Busay intended as relocation site, and the beneficiaries.
But, he said the city government might also come in considering that the beneficiaries are residents of the city.
Rosell has suggested that the relocation site may be included in the city’s socialized housing program, but the city government, however, Castillo said, could only develop the area if it will be donated to the city.
Tolentino, who presided the meeting, affirmed the win-win solution agreed upon, but said the matter has to be further discussed yet.
He believes that the dispute was only a miscommunication, and that the province will help settle it.
In fact, he said, the Capitol has offered a lot in Busay to be used as relocation site for the affected settlers. He, however, said a memorandum of agreement is still being finalized with amendments.
He said the settlers have acknowledged UP's ownership over the lot and were made to understand that any actions, which include letting them occupy the area, would just be temporary as they still have to move to the relocation area once it is developed.
Delos Santos
Meanwhile, Cebu City Councilor Mary Ann Delos Santos urged the City Hall's executive department to keep their hands off the issue with the fire victims and the UP Cebu administration.
A former Lahug barangay captain for 20 years, Delos Santos also asked acting Cebu City Mayor Edgar Labella to refrain from giving false hopes to the fire victims because the reality is that there is no question as to UP Cebu's ownership of the property.
She said that a win-win solution was already agreed upon between UP and majority of the fire victims but these proposal could be jeopardized with the entry of City Hall's reblocking plans which she described done without consultation with the lot owner.
"It (situation) only became chaotic when the city government came in and started bulldozing the area and planned a reblocking," said Delos Santos, a former ally of suspended Mayor Michael Rama.
Right after the fire destroyed the homes of some 200 families last December 26, Delos Santos said that she and Lahug OIC barangay captain Hazel Ann Muaña already talked with University officials and appealed that the fire victims be able to rebuild on site.
Corro, Delos Santos said, agreed to take only 2,000 square meters out of the 4,000 square meters area affected by the fire. The other half will be divided equally to the fire victims where they can rebuild temporary shelters.
The 4,000 square meters is part of the University's real 13 hectare property donated by the Cebu Provincial government. Only half of the property was used by UP since these were occupied by informal settlers.
The 2,000 square meter allowed by UP for temporary homes shall be divided equally among the fire victims, while some of the families even agreed to avail of the relocation site in Nivel Hills, Lahug already prepared by the University for the informal settlers.
Upland Nivel Hills is located about five kilometers away from the sitio Avocado in Central Lahug district.
Delos Santos further said that there have been several fire incidents along UP properties before and because of appeals from barangay officials, the families were able to rebuild their homes. These negotiations before were only between residents and the barangay officials and the UP administration.
"Here comes the City Hall who muddled the issue. We tried to explain to the people the reality. UP is the owner of the property. You cannot reblock something you do not own. Acting Mayor Labella should uphold the law,” she said.
Delos Santos also suspects politics behind the moves of the city government especially that she already shifted to the opposition bloc Bando Osmeña Pundok Kauswagan led by former Mayor Tommy Osmeña, who is challenging Rama in this year's elections for the mayoral post.
Tension broke out Monday morning after UP prevented City Hall trucks from delivering housing materials and bulldozers trying to level off the lot.
The City Hall was later on allowed by the university to deliver rebuilding materials but insisted on the proposed win-win solution as it opens its doors for a dialogue also with the city government.
Policemen were also stationed in the area to maintain peace and order — Michael H. Braga, Jean A. Demecillo, Dale G. Israel /NSA (FREEMAN)