CEBU, Philippines - For the last time, the Capitol demanded informal settlers, living where the Ciudad project is envisioned to rise in Barangay Apas, vacate the area by mid-September as they expect to start the project soon.
Provincial treasurer Roy Salubre said the Cebu Provincial Real Properties Protection Task Force will be constrained to take immediate action if they again ignore the demand letter.
The task force sent the same demand letter to the informal settlers in November 15, 2006, but until now only one among the 12 families has vacated yet and is currently living in a relocation site in Barangay Kalunasan.
Salubre, in his demand letter, informed the settlers that the Ciudad project will start anytime this month and will include the lot the settlers are presently occupying.
“In view thereof, you are hereby demanded again to vacate the area you are presently occupying and remove all the improvements you introduced thereon on or before September 15, 2011,” he said.
“Take this letter to be our last and final demand,” Salubre concluded his letter.
Paul Entera, Provincial Treasurers Office real estate section officer, said the latest demand letter, dated last Monday, was addressed to Rico Palcuto, a retired police colonel who ran for vice mayor of Cebu City in the May 2010 elections but lost.
Palcuto, Entera said, was one of the informal settlers who apparently would not heed the demand.
Entera said he visited the area last Tuesday and had a dialogue with the settlers about the issue. All the settlers, he said, agreed to vacate the area soon, except for Palcuto who has not attended any dialogue about the matter ever since.
Entera said the province has provided 10 by 10 foot houses in Kalunasan where the vacating families can relocate.
“Ang kadto ganing mibalhin na, ilang gipatauran og tubig ug kuryente ang balay. Improved na kaayo,” he said.
Upon receiving the demand letter in 2006, Entera said the settlers pleaded with the government to let them vacate the area only when the province is already going to start the development.
“Giadto namo sila last Tuesday, I think, gipahimangnuan sila nga mag-start na ang project. Ang uban niingon “sige”, ang uban niingon di pa man daw magsugod according sa taga-City Hall,” he said. (FREEMAN)