DWUP to prove that Apas residents are "in the right place"

CEBU, Philippines - The Cebu City Government through the Division for the Welfare of the Urban Poor shall prove in court today that the Urban Development Housing Act of 1992 must be applied in the course of ejecting the residents of Sitio San Miguel, barangay Apas this city.

The city government argued before the court earlier that under UDHA, the residents must not be demolished despite the issuance of the writ of demolition because there is no available relocation for them yet.

DWUP Chief Collin Rosell admitted that there is no available relocation site for the over 200 families due for demolition. He said that the city government is deemed to have a hard time since there are many other urban poor in the danger areas that also need relocation.

This afternoon, he said they will prove to the court that lot 937 was among the areas declared as a socialized housing site under an ordinance passed by the council in 1999.

Since it is a socialized housing site, he said, there is no reason to find a relocation site because in his opinion, the residents are in the right place.

Rosell said that had the property been acquired immediately after it was declared a socialized housing site in 1999, there would not have been any problem on that property today. He said the city government must have a lot acquisition program to acquire all the lots declared as socialized housing sites more than two decades ago.

DWUP is also ready to present that there has been a study conducted two years ago on how to relocate the residents. He said there was a socio-economic survey conducted but he has yet to find out if there was a beneficiary selection conducted. Rosell said they are prepared to present to the court what has been required from them in the order of Judge Soliver Peras.

The demolition of over 200 residents in Apas was held in abeyance until all the issues raised by the city government are resolved, one of which, is the unavailability of a relocation site for the residents at present which the city said should be a basis for not demolishing the residents.

Meanwhile, Cebu City Councilor Edgardo Labella said that Osmeña has no basis to file a disbarment case against him.

Earlier, Labella confirmed that he was sharing the same office space with Atty. Palmares but he denied Osmeña’s allegations. — (FREEMAN)