Eviction this weekend for 158 families at port

At least 158 families reportedly settling illegally along the port zone near the Cebu Ports Authority is scheduled for eviction either today or tomorrow to be facilitated by the Squatters Prevention and Encroachment Elimination Division.

Gerry Marquez, city consultant on the urban poor, yesterday said the city will tear down shanties and makeshift houses along the E.S. Baclig Jr. Avenue in Piers 5 and 6.

Marquez said the residents have enough time to pack their belongings and gather their house materials as the families were "already informed of the clearing operations beginning last week."

"They already know about the clearing operations because we conducted a series of meetings with them," according to Marquez. He said that the demolition will be carried out smoothly as the affected families assured that they will voluntarily dismantle their houses.

The CPA is offering a disturbance fee of P10,000 to each family who willingly dismantles structure and moves out of the area, while the city government is offering P5,000. According to Marquez, this means that the family will be availing a total of P15,000. This also means that no relocation site will be provided for them.

The money will be turned over to them as soon as they tear down the said illegal structures voluntarily.

CPA Commissioner Carlos Co earlier said illegal settlers and their structures at the ports and within the North Reclamation Area will have to go before the 12th ASEAN Summit.

The CPA has long been planning to remove the illegal occupants to speed up economic development at the Cebu ports and its adjacent private lots.

Streets in the city are now being cleared of sidewalk vendors, roads are being repaired and squatters are going to be transferred.

To be cleared of illegal settlers and vendors are the sidewalks of Baclig Street, adjacent to Sergio Osmeña Street and along T. Padilla Street to the boundary of Cebu and Mandaue cities. - Garry B. Lao/MEEV