Ad hoc committee to look into CBRT lot purchase

CEBU, Philippines — The Cebu City Council has approved the creation of an Ad Hoc Committee that will look into the alleged irregularities in the procurement of lots intended for relocation of displaced individuals affected by the Cebu Bus Rapid Transit (CBRT) project.

The committee will be composed of Cebu City Legal, Cebu City Planning Development Office, Division for the Welfare of the Urban Poor (DWUP), Business Permit and Licensing Office (BPLO), City Appraisal Committee, and the CBRT Management Office.

Among its responsibilities is to review the Resettlement Action Plan (RAP), legalities, financial liabilities, social impact of RAP, and investigate the selection process of the resettlement sites particularly on the ownership of the three lots.

The committee is also tasked to reevaluate the compensation offered to the displaced individuals, recommend if the RAP adequately address the welfare of the settlers, evaluate whether it is more viable to purchase the lot being offered or to utilize the city-owned lots. 

The Ad hoc committee was asked to convene as soon as possible and to submit a report and recommendation within 15 days.

Earlier, Councilors James Anthony Cuenco, chairman of the committee on transportation, and Philip Zafra moved for the creation of the committee after noting possible irregularities in the proposed purchase of three lots allegedly owned by a single corporation as relocation sites for families affected by the packages 2 and 3 of CBRT project in Barangay Mambaling.

               Cuenco said the lots to be procured have been identified. These will be paid by the Department of Transportation (DOTr) through the proceeds of the loan the country took from World Bank to fund the CBRT project.

               In fact, DOTr already downloaded P450 million two years ago for the acquisition of the relocation sites. However, some members of the City Council found some irregularities in the acquisition of properties.

The councilors questioned why the lots to be acquired are owned by only one person--Marjorie Sun-Ng. They also found it illogical to buy a property in Barangay Tejero as relocation site for individuals affected by the package 2 of CBRT in Mambaling.

Cuenco said they also found out that the supposed acquisition was not backed by a resolution but by just mere endorsement of the former chairman of the Land Acquisition Committee and one member.

According to Cuenco, since the city was assigned by DOTr to recommend a relocation site, he believes that it is just fitting to have the Ad Hoc Committee take a second look on these lots and make a recommendation before the city council.

“We want to fast-track this job of Ad Hoc Committee that we will be creating,” said Cuenco.

Mandaue starts “Kalag-kalag” preparations

As part of the preparations for the observance of All Saints and All Souls Day, concerned offices in Mandaue City have urged the barangays to clear-out public roads particularly those heading to cemeteries.

Officials of the Bureau of Fire Protection (BFP), Mandaue City Police Office, Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Office, and Traffic Enforcement Agency of Mandaue (TEAM) conducted site inspections to six cemeteries on Friday, October 18, 2024.

These include public cemeteries in Barangay Jagobiao, Barangay Canduman, and Barangay Pagsabungan, as well as the Mandaue City Municipal Cemetery, along with private cemeteries such as Man Park and Grosmar Memorial Garden.

Mandaue DRRMO Operations and Warning Officer Felix Suico Jr. said their inspection was aimed to determine the accessibility of roads, particularly during emergencies.

Suico said that although ambulances can pass through the barangay roads, they have discovered that larger vehicles, such as fire trucks and tankers, would have difficulty accessing the roads.

“That’s why nihangyo mi sa mga barangay nga naay mga cemetery i-clear nato ang atoang mga agianan. Especially katong mga barangay roads leading to the cemetery,” said Suico.

Suico said that the obstructions on the roads were caused by flower and candle vendors who set up their stalls early, narrowing the road. He added that the four concerned offices, in coordination with barangay officials, hope to control the vendors to prevent them from encroaching on public roads.

“Ni coordinate ta sa mga barangay karon nga hopefully ma clear nila before November 1,” said Suico.

With another set of inspections scheduled for next week, Suico said they will check the roads again to see if the vendors have followed their instructions.

“Mubadlong na gyud ta nga dili nato patukuran especially sa mga gagmay nga dan,” Suico stressed.

Additionally, Suico said they will hold a series of coordination meetings with St. Joseph Parish and other parishes managing cemeteries in Mandaue City.

DEPLOYMENT

Starting October 31 until November 3, Mandaue City will deploy at least 40 personnel per shift to each cemetery.

Under Red Alert Status for five days, Suico said that the Mandaue DRRMO has assigned around 10 barangays to augment their team.

“Dili man mi ka-cope up sa personnel, ni tap mi og Barangay Emergency Response Team (ERT),” said Suico.

He said that the barangay ERT will serve as their force multiplier, ensuring safety and security in the city during the holidays.

“Naa tay robing medics nato, naa man tay mga emergency vehicles nga with medical bags, so mao nay atong gamiton pag robing didto sa different cemeteries within Mandaue,” said Suico. (CEBU NEWS)