CEBU, Philippines — After business establishments, illegal settlers and residential owners whose structures are located within the three-meter easement of Estero de Parian got their own final notice from Cebu City Government’s Task Force Gubat sa Baha.
The Task Force’s list showed that majority of the 91 target families whose homes are within Barangays Sto. Nino, Tinago, and San Roque already got the final notice, with one refusing to receive it.
Cebu City’s News & Information reported that of the 91, there were 20 who have yet to receive the notice as no one was around with Task Force personnel came.
The final notice gives the concerned families 72 hours (three days) to voluntarily clear the portion of their structures that is within the three meters of Estero de Parian’s banks.
Under the Water Code of the Philippines, three meters from each side of an urban waterway should be clear of any permanent structures. This space is what is called the waterway’s “easement” and is treated as a “no build zone”.
The Task Force has focused on Estero de Parian lately because it is the most affected by flooding every time it rains.
Days ago, the Task Force sent out final notices to over 30 business establishments and three government offices, for the same violation.
Majority of the business establishment owners have cooperated and expressed their intent to obey the order and voluntarily demolish their structures within the Estero de Parian easement.
Estero de Parian River Commander Aderson Comar said the Task Force is now just waiting for a private surveyor to finish establishing the exact distance of the easement so the business owners can already redesign their structures and remove the portions within the easement.
Also, Comar said the City is also set to demolish today an abandoned apartment building that is located within Estero de Parian’s easement.
City personnel led by the Task Force and assisted by the City’s Prevention, Restoration, Order, and Beautification Enhancement (Probe) team would be the one to remove the structure to speed up the clearing.
He said structure owners could request the Task Force for help in removing the offending portions of their respective structures, if they do not have enough manpower and resources to do so.(CEBU NEWS)