32 families asked to vacate city lot

CEBU, Philippines - Thirty-two families were asked to vacate a city-owned property in the North Reclamation Area until tomorrow.

The Cebu City Government’s Prevention, Restoration, Order, Beautification and Enhancement (PROBE), formerly Squatters Prevention Encroachment and Elimination Division (SPEED), sent notices to the families the week before last, asking them to vacate the property within 10 days.

The 10 days will expire tomorrow. The lot is the one next to the Cebu City Abattoir covering over 1,000 square meters.

Evangeline Abejo of the Nasudnong Katawhang Kabus (Nakabus) said the families are occupying a city-owned lot at the NRA that was formerly a plant nursery of the city agriculture department.

The nursery was transferred at the South Road Properties (SRP) more than five years ago which was the time informal settlers started to flock in the area.

There are a total of 78 families occupying the city-owned lot approximately since 2006, Abejo said.

The city government sent notices, the latest was the third notice, where it says the city will be utilizing the land.

Abejo admitted the residents constructed their houses without the consent from the owner of the property.

Abejo said it was never mentioned what the city will do with the property but she heard stories that it will be part of the city properties at the NRA that Mayor Michael Rama wants to dispose. The mayor earlier said it is inclined to selling block 27 and other city properties for additional income to the city.

She said the agriculture department might also want to use it as a nursery once more.

The residents have asked the city to postpone the clearing until after Christmas this year.

Abejo said the residents have already talked with Division for the Welfare of the Urban Poor Chief Collin Rosell who promised to find ways to accommodate them in the city’s relocation site.

They are yet to speak with the mayor to raise their concern. — (FREEMAN)