Tomas assures water to Block 27 occupants

CEBU, Philippines - Cebu City South Rep. Tomas Osmeña assured former Mahiga Creek residents who are taking temporary shelter at Block 27 in the North Reclamation Area to restore their water supply soon.

Osmeña announced this during his visit at the area yesterday morning.

Osmeña called up Eligio Pacaña, chairman of the Metropolitan Cebu Water District Board of Directors, to ask if there’s a way to provide water to the residents.

Pacaña, according to Councilor Alvin Dizon who was also with Osmeña along with Councilor Margot Osmeña during the visit, reportedly assured the congressman that he will find a way.

Gemma Arcosena, president of sitio San Isidro Homeowners Association of Mahiga, barangay Mabolo, said the the city government cut their water supply last Thursday.

Since then, she and her neighbors have been buying water for about P50 per day for their daily use, which is an additional burden for them.

With the city’s intention to clear Block 27, she believes that they will soon lose their power supply too.

“Ila naman gyud ming pahawaon diri, mao ila ning giputol among tubig,” she said. (They cut our water supply because they want us to leave.)

Mayor Michael Rama is not surprised of Rep. Osmeña’s move.

“What else is new? Tanan nako buhaton gusto man siya moapil. This is not something surprising. Pabisitaa siya didto kada adlaw. Ganahan man gud sya magpapapel,” Rama said.

He added that the Mahiga Creek residents cannot stay at Block 27 forever as it is not a relocation site.

Arcosena said they understand that their stay is temporary and they are willing to move to the relocation site as long as it is suitable to live in.

The city government identified an area in barangay of Budlaan for them, but Arcosena said the city should develop the area first before forcing them to live there.

She said the area is not yet habitable.

She added Alvin Santillan, executive director of the City Disaster and Risk management Coordinating Council, told them to develop the area on their own.

Arcosena was thankful for Osmeña’s intervention and assured that once they have their own water connection, they will religiously pay to MCWD like what they did while still living near Mahiga Creek.

The city transferred these residents to NRA last year to clear the creek from dwellers who are contributing to the flooding problem.

However, only a few of them moved to Budlaan. There are still 34 families staying at Block 27. 

Councilor Dizon who chairs the committee housing, said they visited the Block 27 occupants “to sympathize” with them.

“Kay kining gihimo sa city hall has no place in a civilized society,” he said.

Two weeks ago, the council passed a resolution “sincerely requesting” the office of Mayor Rama to allow the extension of the stay of these families. Dizon believes the city has not yet provided a decent permanent relocation area for them.

“In my capacity as chairman, I sincerely appeal to the mayor to reconsider his position,” he said.

 “While we agree nga limpyuhan ang sapa, but we also have our moral responsibility. The people are willing to relocate, as long as adequate, not undeveloped, kay peligro lang,” he said.

 It’s been one year since Budlaan was identified for these urban poor families but Dizon said nothing has been done to develop it despite the P25 million budget.

Rama said he will hold a meeting today to assess the situation and one of the matters to be tackled will be their relocation site. — (FREEMAN)