City asked to pay for affected lots

CEBU, Philippines - Three persons whose properties have been affected by the ongoing repair of the road that will link Barangay Guadalupe to Barangay Kalunasan have demanded payment from the Cebu City government.

Elizabeth Gacasan of Singson Village in Barangay Guadalupe said the personnel of the city-hired Goldfin Construction destroyed part of her property to give way to a road repair project even before the payment of the cost of her property.

Aside from Gacasan’s property, the road widening and repair project also affected the concrete walls of the houses owned by Raymund Abella and William Albana. 

The cost of the affected properties is only P108,908 based on the assessment of a team from the City Appraisal Committee.

Mayor Michael Rama who is scheduled to arrive today from his official visit to China is willing to pay the cost of the private properties that were affected by the ongoing road repair.

The P6.9-million road repair project is eyed as one of the solutions to the traffic congestion along M. Velez and Don Gil Garcia streets near the Cebu Provincial Capitol.

Once the alternate road linking Guadalupe and Kalunasan is completed, motorists from Guadalupe will no longer need to pass the vicinity of the Capitol Building if they wish to go to Lahug.

Meanwhile, Engr. Nicomedes Leonor, the district engineer of the Department of Public Works and Highways said the widening of the end of M. Velez St. near the Capitol building has been delayed because they are still processing the payment of the road right of way.

Leonor said of the 98 residents affected, only 68 have been paid the disturbance fee of P17,100 each, while the cost of the houses are still being assessed by the City Appraisal Committee.

DPWH Secretary Rogelio Singson said he was dismayed by the delay because his order was to finish the P28-million road widening project in the area last December yet.

The concerned residents asked the DPWH officials to give them a chance to stay in the area after Christmas. They again asked to postpone the demolition of their houses after the Sinulog activities and then again after the end of classes. (FREEMAN)