Apas residents block Central Command transfer

CEBU, Philippines - Residents of barangay Apas in Cebu City are protesting the impending transfer of the Central Command (Camp Lapu-Lapu) to the Benito Ebuen Airbase in Mactan and the Tabugon-Tabuelan areas.

In a letter to defense secretary Gilbert Teodoro, Apas barangay captain Ramil Ayuman said moving the camp elsewhere would mean losing the 47 parcels of land donated by then Governor Jose Briones in 1959 to the military for its use.

Part of the area was designated for housing units of military men “for their peace of mind that their respective families are safe even as they risk their lives in combat.” Today, over a thousand families live at the site and basic services are in place.

“The occupants have also organized themselves, worked for the common good, and have coordinated with the shelter offices, government offices, politicians, and helped in preparing the documents to complete the so-called ‘staff work’ for the lots to be declared as Socialized Housing Sites,” the letter reads.

Presidential Proclamation 409, which was enacted last 2003, declared “certain parcels of land situated in barangay Apas, Cebu City as socialized housing sites under Republic Act 7279 or the Urban Development and Housing Act of 1992.”

The letter was sent to Teodoro because the defense secretary is reportedly one of the signatories for the transfer of the military camp. The MOA signing with Governor Gwendolyn Garcia is reportedly scheduled on Monday.

Teodoro also reportedly signed the Memorandum of Understanding in 2007 for the transfer of the camp on behalf of the Armed Forces of the Philippines.

“The men can just obey because they have to, but the women in the households are not taking this sitting down! The process took a shortcut! Where is the so-called participatory governance, as espoused in the Local Government Code? There were no consultations made to this effect! Are some people above the law then?” the letter reads.

“Secretary of National Defense Gilbert Teodoro, you are one of the signatories to some of these documents, why are you allowing this to happen? Why are you doing this to the residents of barangay Apas?” the letter further reads.

At the Capitol, Garcia said, “no one will be left without a roof over their heads,” particularly the 1,200 legitimate members of the Alliance of Barangay Apas Community Association who are covered by Presidential Proclamation No. 409 that declared 32 hectares of the provincial lot, then belonging to the Third Military area, as a Socialized Housing Site.

The governor said that those that are not members of ABACA but are staying in the subject lot will be looked into after the welfare of the ABACA members has been taken cared of.

“We will deal with them after we finish our negotiation with ABACA members. Right now, we will focus only with ABACA members,” Garcia said.

“Ang tumong gyud nato ani nga sila mabutang sa hapsay na komunidad, limpyo ug layo sa peligro. Apiki man gud na ang ilang dalan diha, may posibilidad na magbaha kung kusog ang ulan,” Garcia said further.

Among those reportedly being considered during in the ongoing talks are a possible housing site like that of Gawad Kalinga, as well as the provision of basic services like roads, drainage, water system and electricity.

The province said that should the residents opt to remain in barangay Apas, they would have to be consolidated in one area.

“If mupadayon man gani silag puyo diha sa Apas, we will also help them avail of loans para pambayad aron maila na jud ang yuta,” Garcia said.

She said demolition remains the last resort. — Niña G. Sumacot and Jessica Ann R. Pareja/JMO   (FREEMAN NEWS)