Eviction awaits fire victims at Uniwide Cebu

CEBU CITY — Displaced fire victims occupying the unfinished Uniwide building face eviction today after refusing to sign an agreement with the Mandaue City government that would have them vacate the premises by Feb. 28.

The fire victims refused to sign the agreement in the absence of any assurance from the government that they will be provided a relocation site.

The victims, numbering 53 families, were among those displaced by a fire that hit Sitio Sapa-Sapa, Barangay Ibabao-Estancia on May 20 the other year.

They were asked to temporarily seek shelter inside the unfinished Uniwide mall but another fire also destroyed the Mandaue City public market last Jan. 30, and now the city government wants to use the Uniwide building as a temporary market.

Mayor Thadeo Ouano ordered the city’s anti-squatting team to serve a "notice to vacate" on the occupants of the unfinished mall, giving them five days to move out.

Ouano later said he would extend their stay to Feb. 28 provided they sign an agreement that they would vacate the premises by that time.

But the fire victims refused without any assurance of a relocation site as promised by the mayor.

At most, they asked Ouano to let them stay until the end of the schoolyear in March but Ouano would not relent, saying the city government can no longer grant them another extension since the city will already start relocating the displaced market vendors to Uniwide.

Ouano denied making a promise to provide them with a relocation site since the victims themselves only wanted to stay in the building for about two weeks after the fire.

Ouano rejected the request for a relocation site saying they have already received assistance from the city and national governments.

He said he is already being "abused" if he gives in to the request for houses and lots as the city’s social welfare services has already provided relief goods and construction materials to them.

The Philippine Charity Sweepstakes Office also donated P1 million in cash assistance while Barangay Ibabao-Estancia distributed 100 sacks of rice.

Big streamers can now be found at the entrance of the unfinished Uniwide building appealing for leniency from Ouano.

At least 500 families were displaced by the fire in Ibabao-Estancia two years ago. — Freeman News Service