Easement violators set to get notices

CEBU, Philippines — The Cebu City government will begin tagging and issuing notices today to structures within the three-meter easement in the city’s seven major rivers.

Seven different teams will conduct the tagging operations.

“Ang first gyud natong buhaton is ang tagging sa mga structures. At the same time, we will be issuing them notices. The City Legal Office is now finalizing these notices,” said lawyer Gerardo Carillo, chairman of the City Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council (CDRRMC).

In a report by the city’s Public Information Office (PIO), CDRRMC met with the barangay officials and other concerned offices on Monday to finalize plans for the activity.

This move is also part of the city government’s response to Mayor Michael Rama’s Executive Order No. 2, series of 2022, or the “Gubat sa Baha.”

Carillo stressed that it is important for the city, in cooperation with the barangays, to clear the three-meter easement along rivers since the people occupying the structures within it would indiscriminately throw their trash into the river.

The team for the Guadalupe River comprises of barangay officials from Sapangdaku, Kalunasan, Calamba, Capitol Site, Guadalupe, Pahina Central, Pahina San Nicolas, Ermita, and Pasil.

For the Kinalumsan River, it will include barangay officials from Buhisan, Labangon, Tisa, Punta Princesa, Mambaling, and Duljo Fatima.

Mahiga River will include officials from Barangays Talamban, Pulangbato, and Mabolo; while for Lahug River, it will include officials from barangays Busay, Kalunasan, Lahug, Kamputhaw, Day-as, Lorega, T. Padilla, Tinago, and Tejero.

For Estero de Parian, the team will be composed of barangay officials from Kamagayan, Sto. Niño, Tinago, Tejero, San Roque, and Carreta.

Bulacao River Team will include officials from barangays Inayawan and Bulacao; and for the Butuanon River, it will include officials from barangays Budlaan, Binaliw, Bacayan, Talamban, and Pulangbato.

During the operations, Carillo said each tagging team will be assisted by representatives from the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH), Division for the Welfare of the Urban Poor (DWUP), Department of Engineering and Public Works, City Legal Office, City Environmental Sanitation Enforcement Team, Department of Social Welfare and Services, the Philippine National Police, and the Armed Forces of the Philippines, among others.

The tagging and issuance of notices is the first step of the city’s goal to clear the three-meter easement of waterways and rivers of structures and occupants.

After this, the barangay officials will have to organize public hearings and consultations with the affected individuals.

“Kinahanglan ato silang pasabton,” said Carillo.

The tagging of the affected households will be verified and finalized by the DPWH and DWUP.

The city government will provide financial assistance to those who will be displaced by the clearing operations, who will be among the beneficiaries of the city’s socialized housing projects.

Carillo said a budget of around P140 million was allotted by the DPWH Central Office for three-meter easement clearing operations in the city.

The city government is serious in the clearing of the structures within the three-meter easement of the rivers, which is also among the directives of Mayor Michael Rama who is aiming to transform Cebu City into a Singapore-like city.  — JMD (FREEMAN)