Officials blamed for "runaway" illegal structures

CEBU, Philippines- Office of the Building Official chief Josefa Ylanan yesterday blamed Barangay Luz officials for failing to act against illegal constructions in their place, particularly those that contributed to the narrowing of access roads.

Ylanan was reacting to the claim of the officials headed by Luz Barangay Captain Rian Tante that OBO failed to act on their reports of illegal construction in their place, including those made within the roads.

Ylanan said she does not remember receiving the reports, but said if the illegal construction is within the road there is no need to bring the issue to her office.

She said the barangay officials in Cebu City are empowered under City Ordinance 1481 to act against any illegal constructions, particularly if these are considered public nuisance.

The OBO chief said the barangay officials should have coordinated with the Squatters Prevention Encroachment Elimination Division for the removal of the illegal structures.

Ylanan said the barangay officials can also ask the opinion of the City Legal Office on what to do.

“Ang pagtoo gud sa kadaghanan nga ang tanang illegal construction trabaho sa OBO,” she said.

When Mayor Michael Rama brought City Hall department heads to the fire scene last Saturday, Ylanan was among those who personally saw the illegal construction within the access roads.

“Dili na man kana ari pa sa among office kay illegal na man daan ang construction kay anaa man gitukod sa karsada, dili man gayud na mahatagan og permit. Gubaon ra gayud na,” said Ylanan.

Ylanan said the law provides that from the drainage system of the road, the residents should move two meters back where they can build their structures.

Meanwhile, the provincial government of Cebu is now assessing the assistance in cash and in kind it can extend to fire victims.

Apart from relief goods, Governor Gwendolyn Garcia said they will extend financial assistance which will exceed the P2 million the province gave to victims of three recent fires in Cebu City.

“Certainly of course, motabang g’yud ta just like in the past. This time basin dako-dako atong ihatag kay dako-dako sad ang nahimong perwisyo ato nga sunog,” she said.

Garcia said she is just waiting for the recommendation of the Provincial Social Welfare and Development Office which is doing the assessment.

She said the assistance will be forwarded to the Cebu City mayor’s office.

Last March, Garcia turned over a check worth P2 million to Cebu City Mayor Michael Rama as financial assistance for the fire victims in barangays Suba, Pardo and Lahug, where fires struck last March 9, 10 and 11, respectively.

Capitol also gave 100 sacks of rice, packs of canned goods, noodles, mats, blankets and kitchen utensils to the 464 families affected by the fire. –(FREEMAN)