Road restoration dialogue: Rama to meet Tejero folk today

CEBU, Philippines - The 58 families who will be affected by the road restoration in the fire-stricken barangay Tejero will meet with Mayor Michael Rama today for another dialogue.

The Mayor called for the meeting as requested by the Division for the Welfare of the Urban Poor to clarify with the residents what rights they have over the lot to be cleared for restoration.

DWUP Chief Collin Rossell said they asked the residents who claim ownership of the portion of the lot to bring documents that will prove their claim because the city government is willing to provide them just compensation.

But residents whose entire house will be affected but the lot they are occupying belongs to the government, they will still receive assistance amounting to P5,000 to P10,000 only.

The same arrangement was done in the widening of T. Villa and F. Villa Streets in barangay T. Padilla after it was hit by fire a year ago.

Rossell said they will also discuss today other issues raised by the residents who are all opposed to the restoration of the originally 10-meter road.

“Primarily, ganahan mi nga maklaro ang tanan. We want to know what rights they have over the property and to clarify why they are opposed to the restoration,” Rossell said.

Rossell said that the city government is not taking anything from them because they are only restoring what existed before they encroached on the area.

Aside from the just compensation, Rossell said the residents will benefit more from the consequential benefits of having a wider road that can be easily accessed by fire trucks and other emergency trucks during emergencies such as fire.

Residents of barangay Tejero agreed to the meeting but already made a stand during their own pulong-pulong that they will not allow the city to begin with the restoration until there is an available budget to pay them.

They are also firm in their opposition to the 10-meter restoration which for them is too wide and will eat up a big portion of their properties.

The city government has already sent notices to these families but the families continue with their refusal to cooperate.

Rossell said that if the residents are asking assurance or a budget to compensate them, the DWUP has its own budget for land acquisition if the road restoration will be identified as a DWUP project. — (FREEMAN)