CEBU, Philippines - Several informal settlers living near the Mahiga Creek have condemned the administration of Mayor Jonas Cortes for threatening to demolish their houses and to forcibly transfer them to the 6.5 relocation site in barangay Pakaan.
But the Cortes administration has denied having threatened them with forced evacuation.
The residents who oppose their transfer to the relocation site are members of the PHILCADANN allege that the city will forcibly demolish their houses if they will resist the transfer.
The group claims the 6.5 Paknaan lot is swampy.
They said they have found out that the classification of the lot based on the certification issued by the City Environment and Natural Resources Office (CENRO) is described as a timberland and these has puzzled them why it was titled and argued this cannot be converted into a residential area.
"The mayor has instilled fear into the hearts of the informal settlers that they cannot do anything against the strong and powerful officials of the city government," Josephine Caya of the Philcadann said.
However, Tonypet Juanico, the Housing and Home Lots Regulation Officer of HUDO said 70 informal settlers of the city have transferred to the new relocation site.
He said that before the transfer, the city made sure that land filling was done before the relocators moved in.
At present, 354 lots are available.
The Paknaan relocation site had drawn criticisms a long time ago, but the mayor in earlier interviews said he will no longer pay attention to criticisms.
Cortes even hosted a video presentation previously which showed the relocation site in barangay Tipolo as a swampy area before homeowners of the Lower Tipolo Housing Association Inc. (LTHAI) built their houses years back.
Members of the (LTHAI) are among the beneficiaries of the 9.2 hectare lot which the city had donated to the urban poor during the term of former mayor now provincial board member Thadeo Ouano. (FREEMAN)