CH to easement violators: Start clearing now

CEBU, Philippines — Resident and business establishments in Cebu City that have been served notices for violation of the three-meter easement rule are advised to move or demolish their properties voluntarily to save their belongings, said Raquen Arce, head of the Cebu City Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Office(CCDRRMO) .

“Katong mga structure owners nga na-servan na sa three-meter easement, atong gi-advise nga mas maayo siguro nga kamo mismo mu-boluntaryo para makahipos pa mo unya magamit pa inyong mga materials kay basin nagtuo mo nga, ah, kutob ra ni sa pag-serve sa notice unya wala tay pagahimuon nga clearing operation,”Arce sid.

She said CCDRRMO, the Prevention Restoration Order Beautification Enhancement (PROBE) team, and the Cebu City Environmental Sanitation and Enforcement Team (CESET) are just waiting for the City Legal Department to give a go signal for demolition.

“Ang atong disaster team, naghuwat na lang sa clearing operation… Nag-serve naman og notice, aduna namay composite team na ning pahigaon ana..So ang atoa na lang, ang go signal kung kanus-a mi magsugod(clearing),” said Arce.

The clearing operations will be for all those structures that encroach the three-meter easement in all of the city’s seven rivers – Guadalupe, Butuanon, Lahug, Kinalumsan, Bulacao, Estero de Parian, and Mahiga.

“Katong mga three-meter easement in all seven rivers kay ga-simultaneous man pud og serving sa notice so the go signal nalang nga kani pwede na… kay naay uban ato mura’g ang tenor man gud sa seven days notice, mura’g show cause ba for them to voluntarily, for them unsay kuan moadto pa sila sa office sa legal, so maghuwat pami unsay instructions sa legal… free naba mi to clear kani nga area, so wait and see nalang ang among team,” Arce said.

Over 2,000 structures, mostly residential, have been served a notice of demolition.

Arce said clearing of the three-meter easement has to be done to prevent massive flooding in the city.

“Kinahanglan gyud nga atoa gyung i-clear ang atong three-meter easement arong sayon nato ang pag-maintain kay karon, pugson nato’g guba kay di kasud atong mga equipment kay nag-okupar man sa three-meter easement,” Arce explained.

Dredging operations by the city government are taking a lot of time due to hindrances along the three-meter easement.

“Ang dredging operation nato, dugay na kayo, mao usahay maka-cause sa flooding kay mo-backflow, especially kung taas ang dagat… kani gyud ang problema kung taas ang dagat unya mokusog ang uwan… mo-backflow gyud na siya… mao na mangguwa ari na sa dalan, mao na mag-flooding atong dalan,” Arce said.

She said City Hlal is sincere and serious about reviving the rivers, at the same time, clearing the three-meter easement for better flow of water.

“Klaruhon ni nato nga sinsero ang atong kagamhanan sa Syudad sa Sugbo sa paglimpyo sa atong kasapaan, apil na ang three-meter easement aron ma-maintain ang atong kalimpyo sa mga kasapaan,” she said. — JMO (FREEMAN)