Urban poor groups seek suspension of demolition sans relocation

CEBU, Philippines —  The Urban Poor Alliance has called on Cebu City Mayor Michael Rama to stop all demolitions while temporary shelters and permanent relocation sites are not yet in place.

The call was made through a post-Valentine harana (serenade) held at the Senior Citizens Park across the Cebu City Hall yesterday. The group said that hundreds of city residents stand to be displaced by the looming demolitions the city government will be conducting to clear the three-meter easements of waterways.

City Councilors Jun Alcover and Nestor Archival heard them out as the group expressed their sentiments. Archival, in an interview with The Freeman, said the affected residents are asking them and Rama to stop all demolition activities pending the availability of their temporary or permanent relocation.

No demolition has happened yet based on Archival’s understanding, but these residents just fear they will be cleared soon even without a temporary shelter.

Archival said he understood their concerns and told the group, who are mostly from the South District, to submit a list of residents that will be affected by the recovery of the three-meter easement of rivers for them and the mayor’s office and other concerned departments to verify the list from the Task Force Gubat sa Baha.

Earlier, Gubat sa Baha co-chairman Atty. Jerone Castillo said at least 4,000 families had been identified as informal settlers living within easement zones of the city rivers and waterways.

The list, however, is still subject for further verification to identify those who can afford to build their own houses and those that needed to be relocated in medium-rise buildings the city government will build in partnership with private developers.

Archival agreed that the list should be verified as he himself is aware that not all of those living within the no build-zone areas are incapable of building their own houses.

At present, the city government is preparing a temporary shelter at the South Road Properties for those that will be affected by the clearing operations. Earlier, the mayor also assured that no clearing will be done without a temporary relocation site for those that will be affected.

The city government is also looking to build hundreds of MRBs for those that will be displaced by the recovery of the three-meter easement and other developments.

“We should really be ready kay kung di ta ready, inig ka displace sa mga tawo, dili lang ang mga dagko, ang mga bata pud, luoy kaayo..unya maka-create nag social problem, madungagan na nuon ang problemam mudaghan ang mga baglungon…Malikayan unta nato,” Archival said. — FPL (FREEMAN)