Six Tejero residents agree to demolish houses voluntarily

CEBU, Philippines - The owners of the six houses subject of an impending demolition in Barangay Tejero have assured to voluntarily destroy their houses to give way to a drainage project.

The assurance came after the Cebu City government through the Division for the Welfare of the Urban Poor promised to give them relocation site within the barangay.

DWUP chief Collin Rosell said each of the affected family will receive P10,000 financial assistance. Rosell and Raquel Arce, chairperson of the Prevention Restoration Order and Beautification Enhancement (PROBE), said that those who will volunteer to remove their structures will be assisted in the processing of the documents to own a government lot under the Free Patent Act.

Melchor Sequina, Zelimma Adaptor, Emma Rosos, Gloria Pedroza, Bernie Rosos and Wilfredo Aton, all are residents of Sitio Laurente in Barangay Tejero agreed to relocate and avail of the relocation site offered by the city.

Tejero Councilman Garry Lao however warned the affected residents that the assurance of the City Hall officials may not be true.

 “Akong tambag sa maong mga pamilya nga dili dayon nila gub-on ang ilang mga balay gawas lang kon sigurado na g’yud ang yuta nga pabalhinan kanila. (My advice to the affected families, do not destroy your houses unless you are already sure of the relocation site,” Lao said.

But Arce said her personnel will clear these houses on Friday so as not to delay the construction of the drainage project in the area.

The mayor had already issued a demolition order that is already due for implementation last December 24 yet, but the Probe team delayed the enforcement because of Christmas.

The six houses are situated within the newly-restored access road from Barangay Caretta to Barangay Tejero. “Ang drainage project dili mahimo kon dili gub-on ang maong mga balay kay anaa man kini mag-agi sa ilawom sa sulod sa balay (the drainage project won’t be implemented without clearing these houses),” Arce said.– (FREEMAN)