City’s NRA lot dwellers ask for more time to vacate

CEBU, Philippines - The 32 families asked to vacate a city-government property at the North Reclamation Area want to meet Mayor Michael Rama to ask the latter for extension until the Summer next year.  Nursery Urban Poor Association Inc. President Jeffrey Zapanta said that  most of them have children attending school who will suffer the most if they get displaced in the middle of a school year.

“Mohangyo lang gyud mi na inig-Summer. Kung dili na gyud madala, bisan i’gkahuman lang sa Disyembre (We request to have do it on summer, if not may be on December),” Zapanta said.

The Division for the Welfare of the Urban Poor offered them the city’s relocation site in La Guerta, Lahug, but they have yet to check the area.

The 32 families were given the notice to vacate within 10 days last October 26. The 10-day deadline expires today.

The city government told the residents in the notice that the city has decided to utilize the property.

The property occupied by the 32 families used to be a plant nursery of the city agriculture department.

There are a total of 78 families in the city-owned property, but the 32 families actually occupy the former nursery.

Zapanta said the 32 families built their homes there when the city decided to transfer the plant nursery to the South Road Properties.

“Expansion naman lang gud to sila, maong sila ra ang gitagaan og notice. Ang kasagaran namo 10 years na gyud nagpuyo diha,” Zapanta said.

A source from the City Agriculture Department said the plant nursery will have to be transferred back to its original location, which is at the NRA, because the area they are using now will already be used by the owner.

The plant nursery, the CAD source said, is covered by the lot bought by SM Prime Holdings.

The CAD transferred to SRP over five years ago because the NRA lot was supposed to be leased to a private company, but the lease did not push through.

The residents are willing to vacate the property if given ample time to look for another place to live. They also requested DWUP if they can possibly be relocated in the city’s relocation site.

Zapanta said the relocation site in La Guerta has 200 available slots. —FPL (FREEMAN)