CEBU, Philippines - In a public hearing yesterday, Kamagayan barangay captain Celestino Avila and residents supports the six months moratorium on the eviction of informal settlers at the Citicenter Commercial Complex, as proposed by Cebu City Councilor Alvin Dizon.
In the proposed ordinance, demolition of structures and eviction of occupants will be prohibited for a period of six months, a grace period for the residents to prepare and leave the property.
The draft ordinance also mandates the Division for the Welfare of the Urban Poor to comply with Section 28 of the Republic Act 7279 or the Urban Development and Housing Act which requires the provision of adequate relocation, whether temporary or permanent or compensation if relocation shall not be available.
Earlier, Dizon said the mayor wants to evict the occupants for the plan to convert the place into a housing site but failed to consult the affected residents. He said there was no offer of a relocation site.
Some 29 families and individuals claim to be underprivileged and homeless occupants of the Citicenter Commercial Complex.
They were asked by the Office of the Mayor to vacate the property last October. The site is eyed as a socialized housing site where high-rise condominiums for City Hall employees and other homeless residents will be built soon.
Last November, those who claim as actual occupants sued the City Government. But the court denied the complainants’ petition for preliminary injunction and gave the go signal for the City Government to proceed with the demolition.
Rama said that the Council is acting like it is higher than the court since there is already an order allowing the City to evict the informal settlers. The court ordered the city to proceed with the demolition in the most humane way possible and make sure to accommodate them in the city’s housing programs those who are eligible.
“They might be thinking that they are now running the city. I believe that the prerogative has already been put in place. They don’t have to worry because the mayor is a lawyer,†said Rama.
He further stated that the Council should be more concerned on making ordinances that will help the people to have a better future rather than invading a territory that does not belong to them.
“They must be concerned, instead of budget removal of master plan, slashing the budget and creating stumbling block for a beautiful tomorrow. Are they for themselves, for Cebu City, for the country or are they only for one person?†Rama added.
“It will create a new landscape within that area. For those who are not qualified, you also have to address them. You have to be micro and macro kaysa pataka ka og hasmag. My concept is that we have to co-exist with all,†said Rama. — (FREEMAN)