Tommy O willing to help residents displaced by fire

CEBU, Philippines - Mayor Tomas R. Osmeña is very willing to help solve the problem of the fire victims in barangay Lahug, who are now being barred by the University of the Philippines from reconstructing their houses in the schools’ lot, but said he will do it only if barangay captain Mary Ann de los Santos would fail to solve the problem of her constituents.

“Gusto g’yud unta kaayo ko nga motabang sa mga nasunogan apan tungod sa ilang barangay kapitan nga maldita kaayo, bahala na siya nga maoy mouna pagsulbad sa problema,” Osmeña told The Freeman in a phone interview yesterday.

Osmeña said if barangay captain de los Santos would fail to help her constituents, whose houses were razed by a fire that struck in a thickly-populated area along Gorordo Avenue across the Lahug Elementary School, this time he is willing to talk with the UP officials to reconsider their decision.

Some UP officials, escorted by armed private security guards, went to the site at past 10 a.m. yesterday bringing with them barbed wire as they wanted to fence the place to prevent the squatters from rebuilding their houses.

However, the angry residents prevented them from fencing the place and a commotion nearly erupted that prompted the UP officials to quickly leave the area and instead proceeded to the nearby barangay hall where they talked with de los Santos.  

One of the residents told The Freeman “Dili mi nila tugotan nga makatukod pagbalik og balay, asa man mi nila papuy-a?”

A 75-year-old fire victim said she and her family lived the place immediately after the World War II and she is hoping that the UP officials would reconsider their plan.

UP Cebu property custodian Virgilio Nuñez explained that they are just following the advice of the Commission on Audit (COA) officials, who called their attention to recover the school’s lot that is being occupied by the squatters.

The university’s anti-squatters and land use committee met immediately after the fire and decided that they will ask permission from the barangay officials to secure the area owned by the school.

UP Cebu based along Gorordo Avenue owns 18.3 hectares in Lahug, but the school has failed to prevent the entry of about 1,000 informal settlers into its property.

The state auditors said the UP lot is now occupied by the “urban rich” squatters, who had put up commercial establishments.

Meanwhile, Osmeña was criticized by congressional aspirant Jonathan Guardo, saying “the fire in Lahug was not contained immediately because as it turned out, we did not have enough fire trucks. Where’s the P2 billion?”

The City officials last Monday announced that the city had P2 billion current deposits in bank.

“Most of fire trucks are old and dilapidated and Mayor Osmeña says he doesn’t know about these fire department problems. Poor excuse. Of course he won’t know because he is so busy campaigning and removing basketball boards that are owned by the opposition,” Guardo said.

Up Property

The sign put up by Alsidry Shariff, Supervising Administrative Officer (SAO) of UP Visayas Cebu College which said “No trespassing. This is UP property” was removed by the residents.

Residents said that the school cannot just displace them. Shariff said that the area is a government property and it is their duty to secure the area, otherwise they will be held liable for it.

“We are saddened sa ilang gina-experience karon, but we have to move on,” Shariff said.

He added that it is also a matter of political will because if they are not going to act now, the matter will be taken against them. — Rene U. Borromeo, Niña Sumacot and Jessica Ann Pareja/NLQ (THE FREEMAN)