Warwick settlers told: Avail of housing offer

CEBU, Philippines - Some 50 families occupying sitio Warwick Barracks in Barangay Ermita “illegally” are encouraged to avail of the city government’s Socialized Housing Program.

Lawyer Collin Rossell, head of the City’s Division for the Welfare of the Urban Poor (DWUP), said the city is not obliged to provide the settlers housing but is offering the program “out of compassion.”

“The law says na for market purposes g’yud na nga area diha, not for residential. So a relocation site is not mandatory for them. But the City has a lot of compassion so we are offering this Socialized Housing Program,” Rossell explained.

Rossell has explained the situation to about 50 settlers the day after they trooped to City Hall last Thursday. At least 200 occupants have claimed to own structures at the Carbon Market.

The group went to City Hall to support their homeowners’ association president Perla Eraya and Ermita barangay captain Felicimo Rupinta who, during the executive session, appealed to the City Council that they be allowed to go back to sitio Warwicks.

The area, which measures 5,685 in square meters, caught fire last January 11.

Rossell who was also present in the executive session said that 10 families have applied for the Socialized Housing Program so far.

The city is allotting P50 million for the lot.

“The rest, naa ra ‘na nila kung dili sila mu-avail. Kani man gu’ng tawo, for as long as wala pa’y urgent need, abi kay naa pa sila’y gipuy-an karon, dili pud maghikay daan (It’s up to the rest of them whether or not they would avail. What’s happening is they aren’t looking at the future because they still have a place to stay at present),” Rossell said.

The application process takes some time since the applicants should be qualified beforehand and pertinent papers should be prepared before they could avail of the program, but Rossell said DWUP has made some considerations and shortened the process for the Warwick applicants.

If applicants won’t qualify for the program, they have the option to stay at relocation sites in Barangays Lahug and Budlaan, which are also being offered by the city.

At present, the settlers are staying temporarily near the viaduct of the South Road Properties. The problem is that the Cebu Ports Authority (CPA), which has claimed ownership over the lot, has ordered them to vacate.

Rossell said that of the 200 occupants in Warwick Barracks who claim to own structures, only 101 have been proven to be real owners. The other 50 families are homeowners while the rest are renters and sharers who have been given P5,000 financial assistance by the city.

The identified structure owners can return to Warwick Barracks once the module that is being constructed in the fire-hit area is finished.

The DWUP chief said that renters and sharers may apply for the housing program, but the homeowners will be prioritized. —JMO (FREEMAN)