Mandaue knocks down pigpens, other structures

CEBU, Philippines - The demolition team employed by the legal office of Mandaue City yesterday demolished two pigpens, rest rooms, and other unoccupied structures along the river in barangay Centro.

The structures' owners were issued notices of demolition by the legal department last January. One of the owners voluntarily demolished his pigpens.

City legal officer Giovanni Tianero said the demolition of other structures that serve as extensions of houses such as kitchens or living rooms will continue today.

Squatters living in the area feared their houses were to be demolished, too.

Many of them said they are not "professional squatters" contrary to what the city government earlier said because they have been living in the area for more than 20 years.

Many years ago, the area was planted to mangrove and was a temporary dumpsite.

They denied having received financial assistance from the city government before.

Under the Urban Development and Housing Act of 1992, professional squatters are not entitled to relocation and financial assistance.

The law defines professional squatters as individuals or groups who occupy lands without the express consent of the landowner and who have sufficient income for legitimate housing.”

The term shall also apply to individuals who have been previously awarded housing units or home lots awarded by the government but who sold, leased or transferred the same to settle illegally in the same area or in another urban areas, and non-bonafide occupants and intruders of land for socialized housing.

Meanwhile, Emmanuel Arong, OIC of the city's Housing Urban and Development Office (HUDO) said many if not all of the respondents are members of the newly-organized Pundok Centrohanon Homeowners Association, Inc. which has applied with HUDO to avail of the relocation in the 6.5 hectare-lot in Paknaan.

According to Arong, they have created a screening committee to identify beneficiaries of the relocation site which can accommodate 1,200 families.

Under the Community Mortgage Program of the national government, the Social Home Mortgage Finance Corporation will purchase the lot from the owner and in return, the organization will amortize the lot for a maximum of 25 years with a minimal interest rate.

The lot is priced by the owner at P2,000 per square meter.