DWUP: Legit lot owners will get land

CEBU, Philippines - Some 50 displaced families who have not received lot allotment from the Cebu City government after the March 18 fire in Barangay Lorega-San Miguel could acquire the land they are seeking if they can prove that they are qualified owners.

Department for the Welfare of the Urban Poor Chief Collin Rosell said that some of the families are renters and sharers.

“Ang renter dili na moangkon nga renter, ang sharer dili napud moangkon,” he said, adding that everyone wants to declare themselves as owners to restore their location.

Rosell said that upon Mayor Michael Rama’s instructions, all qualified owners of the burned down structures or houses in the location should be restored in the area.

However, Rosell admitted that they have had a hard time in identifying the real owners of the lots.

“Tanan gusto ma-owner kay aron ma-restore sila didtong dapita. So, silang tanan magpa-qualify gyud,” he said.

Rosell added that after the community mapping and screening of close to a thousand individuals, DWUP has identified more than 480 beneficiaries of the lot allocation.

“Everyone wanted that place tungod sa accessibility pero ang problema, they are still expecting nga kanang hawan ba, kanus-a kaha ni ibahin-bahin namo no?,” he said.

He said that the open space will be constructed with a public market, medium-rise buildings, a barangay hall, fire station, among others.

He clarified though that it is not because of the construction of structures that families will not be accommodated there.

“Ang wala’y allocation, try lang og connect sa opisina aron ma-accommodate nato para sa laing relocation site, kay naa man ta’y gi-acquire pero ayaw lang og insist gyud kay mobuto gyud ta diha,” he said.

“They can be accommodated as long as they can be qualified under the program, but what we cannot assure is that would it be in Lorega,” he added.

The houses that were not affected with the fire were given lot allocation because of the projects of the city.

Meanwhile, Rossel said that they have received reports that the cemetery has caused illnesses to some children in the area.

With this, he said that the bones in the container will be transferred to the bone chamber of Santo Rosario Parish church.  (FREEMAN)