CH asks court to defer demolition in Brgy Luz

CEBU, Philippines - The Cebu City government has asked the court to hold in abeyance the demolition of 29 houses subject of a writ of demolition in Barangay Luz until a relocation site is available for the affected families.

The city government has initially identified an area in Barangay Budlaan as relocation site. However, the area will be affected by the transmission line project of the National Grid Corporation.

NGC will soon construct a 138KV transmission line in Budlaan.

“Grid lines/transmission lines are known to produce electromagnetic waves and the radiation that will result from this will wreak havoc in the health of the individuals who will be relocated there,” the city government said in its urgent motion filed before the court seeking to hold in abeyance any demolition.

According to the city lawyers, the local government unit is forced to find another relocation site for the affected families because of the NGC project.

Under the Republic Act 7279 otherwise known as the Urban Development and Housing Act, the city lawyers argued, there will be no demolition to be implemented unless there is already an adequate relocation provided by the local government.

The city lawyers said that the Local Housing Board has already passed a resolution on May 7, 2012 requesting the City Council to allow Mayor Michael Rama to negotiate with the homeowners association to purchase the lot that the affected families now occupy.

 “As previously mentioned, there is a move by the City to purchase the affected lots in Barangay Luz, the court, in its plenary powers, can afford the City of Cebu more time and leeway to either effect the purchase of the affected lots, or find a suitable relocation site for the residents,” the urgent motion reads.

Regional Trial Court Branch 11 Judge Ramon Daomilas earlier issued the writ of demolition against 32 houses in three sitios of Barangay Luz. Of the 32 houses subject of the writ only 29 are left because the tree others were affected by the recent fire.

Meanwhile, Barangay Luz Secretary Ronnie Sab-a clarified that Congressman Tomas Osmeña conducted feeding in their barangay, distributed used clothing and goods after the fire on May 11, 2012— (FREEMAN)