22 families living under bridge ordered to move

CEBU, Philippines -  At least 22 families living under the bridge on B. Rodriguez Street at the Guadalupe River in Barangay Sambag 2 have been ordered to demolish the houses.

Lawyer Jose Daluz, the mayor’s representative to the Cebu City Rivers Management Council, confirmed that the order was issued last August 14 and the families were given 10 days to demolish the structures.

“In the interest of public safety and the common good, you are hereby notified to voluntarily remove or demolish your illegal structures within 10 days from receipt of this notice, otherwise we will take appropriate measures to remove the said illegal structures and charge to you the corresponding costs we would incur and we will also resort to proper sanctions provided by the existing laws,” the notice reads.

The time period for demolition has lapsed but the city has not yet made any move.

Daluz, a former city councilor, said rivers council members inspected the area and found out that the families violated several laws by constructing the houses under the bridge.

These include Section 23 of the Revised Philippine Highway Act, Article 51 of the Water Code of the Philippines, Article 694 of the Civil Code of the Philippines, and City Ordinance 1481 prohibits the construction of houses under the bridge and within the three-meter easement of creeks.

In a letter to Mayor Michael Rama, the concerned families headed by Ildefonso Bacunawa asked that they be given a relocation site near the area especially that their children are studying in schools nearby.

“Among gihangyo kanimo mayor nga hatagan mo kami og relocation site nga duol ra kay ang among anak intawon nag-eskuyla pa luoy man usab kon sila paundangon sa pagtungha,” Bacunawa said.

The City Council has referred the matter to the Division for the Welfare of the Urban Poor (DWUP) so that assistance can be given to the affected families.

Clearing the three-meter easement of the Guadalupe River is given special attention by the city government to provide adequate passage to residents coming from Barangay Guadalupe walking to Barangay Pasil.  (FREEMAN)