Council wants CitiCenter occupants to stay for now

CEBU, Philippines - The Cebu City Council wants Mayor Michael Rama to leave the individuals occupying the city-owned CitiCenter Commercial Building alone while the city has no plan to use the structure anytime soon.

In a resolution, the council authorized the mayor to negotiate with the residents for a lease deal so they can continue to occupy the building and leave when the city already has funds for how it intends to use the property in the future.

The Cebu City government reportedly wants to convert the CitiCenter Commercial Complex into a high-rise housing site for Cebu City Hall employees and those who will be displaced by the restoration of the three-meter easement zone in rivers and creeks.

When the P100-million budget proposed under the 2012 Annual Budget for this purpose was not approved, the Division for the Welfare of the Urban Poor said a partnership with the Home Development Mutual (Pag-IBIG) Fund may be another option.

Rama ordered last month the clearing of the CitiCenter after his office was bombarded with reports of the alleged illegal activities in the area.  Rama earlier said the building has become a drug den and a center for prostitution.

Some 26 residents filed a case against the city government in court claiming they are homeless and underprivileged.

The case is pending and the latest development was the ocular inspection conducted by Judge Ma. Lynna P. Adviento of Regional Trial Court Branch 58 last Wednesday.

Rama criticized Councilor Alvin Dizon for even proposing such a resolution authorizing him to negotiate when there is not even an initiative to negotiate from the Office of the Mayor.

“I would like to remind Councilor Alvin Dizon that there is already a case. It has become a judicial matter. I wish they are consulting a lawyer. Besides, before you authorize, it (the move to negotiate) has to start from the office of the Mayor,” Rama said.

He said he is disappointed at the city council.

In his resolution, Dizon said that the residents deserve to be treated properly.

“Section 28 (b) of Republic Act 7279 or the Urban Development and Housing Act states that eviction or demolition as a practice shall be discouraged,” Dizon cited in his resolution.

He also said though that the same law allows for eviction or demolition under special situations such as when government infrastructure projects with available funding are about to be implemented.

Dizon said that the city government has not yet secured funding for its proposed housing project in the area.

“Pending the approval and release of funds for the housing project, the present occupants of the CitiCenter must also be properly treated by the city government and that their right to adequate housing and security of land tenure is respected as well,” Dizon said.

The eviction of illegal occupants at the CitiCenter was suspended after the court issued a status quo order last Nov. 7.   (FREEMAN)