Informal settlers to resist demolition

CEBU, Philippines - The once-cancelled demolition of houses of informal settlers in barangay Marigondon, Lapu-Lapu will finally push through today.

The planned demolition was aborted last Thursday after the Department of Interior and Local Government (DILG) issued a memorandum which stated that the court sheriff should have coordinated first with concerned agencies and house owners before implementing the demolition.

The DILG mandates the coordination of parties involved before any court order is executed.

The memorandum states that the court sheriff and the Local Government Unit (LGU) should coordinate with the National Housing Authority (NHA), Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD), Department of Education (DepEd), Presidential Commission for the Urban Poor (PCUP), and the Commission on Human Rights (CHR) before implementing any demolition.

Around 70 families will be affected once houses in sitio St. Joseph in barangay Marigondon will be demolished today.

Also scheduled to be demolished are houses of ten families in sitio Mangal in barangay Punta Engaño.

The informal settlers in St. Joseph Marigondon earlier said they won’t move because the financial assistance extended to them is not enough and that no relocation site was promised them.

Rebecca Maranga, president of Nagkahiusang Kabus sa Marigondon (NAKASMA), said they are always vigilant and had put up barricades at the entrance leading to their place.

She said they will stand for their rights. The property is owned by the Philippine Estate Corporation.

Lapu-Lapu City Mayor Paz Radaza earlier said the city will help them provided they register with the Urban Poor Association for evaluation to find out whether they are professional squatters or not.

The informal settlers on the other hand in sitio Mangal barangay Punta Engaño are set to oppose any demolition today. Some of the informal settlers belong to the Alimaong group who claim they have the right to live at the place being indigenous.

Barangay Punta Engaño captain Lourdes Ibag has asked them to vacate the lot since it is a titled lot and owned by the Espina family. — (FREEMAN)