Cebu City Council seeks to meet town officials over relocation site

CEBU, Philippines – The Cebu City Council has asked Consolacion town Mayor Teresa Alegado and Pulpogan barangay officials for an executive session on November 19 to settle issues on the status of the Pulpogan Resettlement Village's satellite market.

The satellite market is part of the Cebu City-owned lot in the said barangay but the market is now converted into residential houses.

Last month, the Barangay Council of Pulpogan, headed by Captain Roger Linaboc, requested Cebu City Mayor Michael Rama to inspect the condition of the market.

It is stated on Barangay Pulpogan Resolution No. 042 that "there is an abuse of authority of Homeowners' Association officers who disregarded and/or neglected the matter despite their knowledge of the fact."

"It is a public knowledge that most portions of the satellite market area have been converted into residential houses and even served as room or house for rent," the barangay resolution read.

Records of the City Hall also confirmed that majority of the families in the area failed to fully pay their amortization to the city government.

Based on earlier reports, Cebu City government constructed it as a relocation site for the city's residents.

According to the report of the City Council's Committee on Housing, Alegado requested that the Pulpogan Relocation Site will be donated in their favor.

There was also a request for financial assistance amounting to P250,000 for the renovation, improvement, repair and/or rehabilitation of Mother Ignacia Village open gym which is located inside the Cebu City-owned lot in the said barangay.

Because of this, the committee emphasized the need for the city government to come up with its official stand on its future plans for administration or disposition of the Pulpogan relocation site in view of the municipality's requests.

"The committee believes that present referral highlights the need to settle once and for all the Cebu City government's plans for the Pulpogan relocation site," the committee report read.

"When the issue is addressed, the Cebu City government will be properly guided on the measures it needs to make to address other issues involving relocation site," it added.

In 1980s, families whose houses at the port area were pulled down by the city government, were relocated to the 13-hectare lot in Barangay Pulpogan.