Dizon wants moratorium on clearing operations

CEBU, Philippines-Cebu City Councilor Alvin Dizon is pushing for a moratorium on clearing operations in the city that target informal settlers, especially those in danger zones, public places, or development sites.

The proposed measure is entitled, “An Ordinance Imposing a Moratorium on Eviction or Demolitions of Dwelling in Public Lands within the City of Cebu to be Implemented by the Cebu City Government.”

The proposal would require the city government to secure a Certificate of Compliance from the Local Housing Board before initiating any clearing operation.

However, the moratorium will not apply to court-ordered demolition or eviction. Also, the city can lift the moratorium once it complies with the necessary requirements such as providing sufficient consultations and proper resettlement sites, among other conditions.

The City Council’s Committee on Laws, Ordinances, Public Accountability and Good Governance is reviewing the proposal.

Dizon, chairperson of the Council’s Committee on Housing, said issues like inadequate consultation or lack of relocation sites that surfaced after recent clearing operations prompted him to push for the ordinance.

“This year, the Cebu City government implemented clearing or demolition of dwelling of urban poor families without conducting any adequate consultation and without providing any adequate relocation,” he said.

Recently, the removal of nine illegal structures in front of the Doña Pepang Cemetery sparked outrage among affected families and people’s organizations as the city plans to develop the cemetery into a heritage park.

Dizon stressed that the city violated Section 28 of Republic Act 7279 or the Urban Development and Housing Act that laid down the mandatory requirements for the execution of any eviction or demolition work.

The law requires the issuance of a formal notice to affected individuals at least 30 days prior to the eviction or demolition, with the assurance of providing proper relocation, whether temporary or permanent.

This also includes conducting thorough consultations with the families to be resettled and the affected communities in the areas where they are to be relocated.

Preventing violations, the ordinance will impose a moratorium in evicting or demolishing informal settlers in danger zones (structures encroaching on railroad tracks, garbage sites, waterways); in public places (structures sitting on sidewalks, parks, public cemeteries); and in development sites where government infrastructure project are about to be implemented. (FREEMAN)