Luz demolition reset to 2012

CEBU, Philippines - In the spirit of compassion the scheduled demolition of the houses of 32 families in three sitios in Barangay Luz was moved to next year instead of next week.

Judge Ramon Daomilas of Regional Trial Court Branch 11 moved the implementation of the writ of demolition to January 5, 2012 instead of December 8, 2011 as agreed by both parties.

This is to give chance to the city government through the Division for the Welfare of the Urban Poor to specify a relocation site for the families set to be affected by the demolition, the order read.

Sitios Nangka, Mabuhay and Lubi were once part of the lots covered under Provincial Ordinance 93-1 but were turned over to Cebu City through a deed of assignment issued during the time of former governor Emilio Osmeña.

Fifteen families live in Sitio Lubi, 11 in Sitio Mabuhay and six in Sitio Nangka.

Daomilas directed court Sheriff Jessie Belarmino to hold in abeyance the implementation of the writ of implementation of the structures and other improvements made in the lots occupied by the 32 families.

He likewise directed the city government to coordinate with DWUP regarding the relocation site the soonest possible time.

The 32 families initially received the notice of demolition last November 3, 2011 wherein they were given 45 days to vacate, but due to the intervention of Mayor Michael Rama the scheduled demolition was postponed.

In his letter addressed to Daomilas, Rama asked for a six-month postponement of the scheduled demolition to look for a relocation site for the families. Daomilas allowed just one month.

Daomilas then directed City Hall lawyers to immediately inform the court of the specific relocation site of the affected families.

The families ordered to be evicted have lived in the area since 1956, said Evangeline Abejo, President of the Nasudnong Katawhang Kabus, the umbrella organization of the Barrio Luz Urban Poor Federation.

The 32 families filed a civil case against their homeowners association seeking the partial annulment of the contracts and certificates of title with injunction and preliminary mandatory injunction. These families refused to be part of the association and the Community Mortgage Program availed by their organization because they wanted to pay directly to the city government instead of paying to the association.

Reportedly, the program was initiated during the administration of former mayor Tomas Osmeña that allowed the urban poor to own their homes through a 25-year amortization plan.  (FREEMAN)