President Marcos intervention sought

CEBU, Philippines — With some legal and environmental concerns raised over the proposed relocation site for the Badjao community that were affected by a recent fire, the Cebu City government’s Task Force Pabahay (TFP) is set to seek help from President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. for intervention for the fire victims and other displaced individuals.

In TFP’s latest meeting late last week, there were some technicalities reportedly raised by the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) before it gives a nod to the proposed relocation site.

“Naay mga legalities that needs to be resolved and ironed out with DENR,” said TFP’s overseer, City Councilor Gerry Guardo to The Freeman yesterday.

Guardo said he cannot explain in full, being highly technical and legal, but disclosed that it was found out there was a previous claimant of the area, which eventually went under DENR’s care.

“Naay ni claim ani before sa submerged land, but murag napildi sila and na punta sa DENR, bale ang State owns it nya under sa care sa DENR,” Guardo said.

Being a foreshore land, the group also thought of a foreshore lease application and agreement, but there are also other things to be done based on what the Cebu City government proposed.

TFP and DENR are having their legal teams discuss this further, Guardo said.

TFP is also planning to send a letter to the Office of the President to help them with their plans for the Badjaos and other displaced Muslims in the area.

President Marcos Jr. is expected to give a nod to making the proposed area “alienable and disposable.”

The proposed site is not just a simple relocation site for the Badjaos; they also want it to be an eco-tourism site.

With this, DENR representatives have also coordinated with other national government agencies including the National Housing Authority, the Department of Tourism and the Tourism Infrastructure and Enterprise Zone Authority (TIEZA), and the Department of Public Works and Highways.

“If we are really to implement this long-term plan, dili ing-ana kadali. We have to work and collaborate,” Guardo said.

Meanwhile, the City’s Public Information Office said that Mayor Raymond Alvin Garcia, who also attended TFP’s last meeting, hopes the City government will not be burdened so much by the process.

“This is just to help people. Now, I have pleaded to all of you ba nga dili ninyo lisud-lisoron ang mga tawo tungod sa inyong very stringent rules og unsa pa nang inyoha nga naa diha,” Mayor Garcia said.

Garcia also hopes for full cooperation among all agencies involved.

“Magtinabangay ta kay if you are making it difficult for us, you are making it difficult for them, the Filipino people,” Garcia added.

Aside from the relocation site for the Badjao fire victims, as well as other residents who would be displaced by the planned Mambaling bypass road, Mayor Garcia had also pledged a relocation site for the latest fire victims in Barangay Inayawan, plus other assistance.

In his visit to the 35 families who lost their homes due to the fire in Sitio San Roque the other night, Garcia assured them of temporary shelter with tents, food and water for three days, and medical and financial assistance to rebuild their homes.

Construction materials and a safe relocation site are also being looked into.

Psychosocial support, including counseling and stress debriefing sessions—especially for children—as well as legal and documentation assistance have also been extended by the City government. — /ATO (FREEMAN)