Brgy lahug fire: City claims UP relocation site not ready

CEBU, Philippines - The Cebu City government insisted that the University of the Philippines cannot evict the fire victims at Sitio Avocado in Barangay Lahug because of the absence of a relocation site.

City Administrator Lucelle Mercado said they found out that the relocation site promised by UP in Nivel Hills was not yet donated by the Province of Cebu.

 “Katong ilang claim nga ready na ang relocation site, mas maayo nga ato sang klaruhon kay as per sa istorya sa Capitol ug UP, technically wa pa siya ma-ready kay ang papeles nga mag-establish nga aduna gyuy donation ngadto padung sa UP, ihatag ngadto sa mga tao nga presently occupying the UP lot, wala pa gyud mahuman ang mga papeles,” Mercado said.

City legal officer Jerone Castillo said there was no document yet to prove that the property was already donated.

“We’re just being factual about it. I was even asking kun asa ang gi-donar. Wala pay documents ug wala pa na mapirmahi so kulang pa. Mao bitaw ato ni klarohon kay programa man kaha ni. We should have the details. We have to be very clear as to the property’s ownership,” he said.

Mercado said that while the Deed of Donation is still being processed, the city government will not intervene between UP and the Capitol.

“Ang siyudad sa Sugbo di gyud mosulod sa lugar, for example kaning gi-donate nga relocation site until ma-establish definitely nga mao gyud na ang lugar nga ilang gi-occupy. It is now between UP and the province. Magpadaplin sa usa mi hangtod nga ma-finalize na ang papeles,” she said.

Mercado said the transfer of the fire victims to the relocation site will depend on how long the site will be prepared. She said that the leaders of the homeowners have already agreed to relocate provided that the site is ready and livable.

Mercado said that the city government is not claiming ownership of the property owned by UP. She said the city only wanted to protect the interest of the fire victims to ensure that they are not evicted unless there is a relocation site.

A huge fire hit Sitio Avocado last December 26 leaving over 200 families homeless. The UP management wanted to fence the property to prevent the fire victims from rebuilding their houses but the city government intervened. (FREEMAN)