Lorega reblocking starts tomorrow

CEBU, Philippines - The Cebu City Government will start clearing operations for the reblocking the fire scene in Barangay Lorega-San Miguel tomorrow, with the aim of finishing it in a month’s time.

Lawyer Jose Marie Poblete, who heads the city’s Department of Engineering and Public Works (DEPW), said clearing is the first step to reblocking the three-hectare lot that was affected by last Tuesday’s fire, which razed over 700 houses.

Poblete said part of the reblocking plan is the construction of another road traversing the area and the widening of two existing access roads there.

He said they have mobilized all available heavy equipment of the city and has tapped the help of private contractors for additional equipment.

Poblete said most of the city’s equipment are being used in the demolition of the old Cebu City Medical Center building and in the road restoration project in Barangay Tejero.

He said they have to finish the reblocking in a month, or as soon as possible, so the affected residents, who are anxious to go back, can rebuild their homes the soonest possible, too.

“The faster they do the clearing, the faster the affected families can go back in the area,” said Poblete.

To hasten the reblocking plan, the DEPW chief appealed for the residents to cooperate.

“Muhangyo lang ‘ta nila nga muagwanta lang sila kay para ilaha man lang sad ni (I request that they bear with the inconvenience because this is for them),” Poblete said.

In the meantime, the city has imposed a “no construction” order in the area since some of the families have started building makeshift tents where their houses once stood.

Poblete said the families have been told to refrain from doing so while the police have been directed to admonish the residents who intend to do so.

Poblete and representatives of concerned agencies met with barangay officials and leaders of at least two homeowners association in Lorega-San Miguel last Thursday to discuss the reblocking plan.

Barangay Captain Fritz Herrera said they are in favor of the reblocking and he would even convince his constituents who have initially disagreed with the plan.

One of the concerns raised during the meeting was the transfer of the Lorega market, which currently stands between Imus Road and MJ Cuenco Avenue.

Poblete said they are looking at another area where the market, which was spared from the fire, can be relocated so the city can widen the roads.

He further said that he would meet the residents and barangay officials again on the ownership of the lot where the fire took place as part of the evaluation on how many are city-owned or are titled.

The fire victims, on the other hand, looked forward to the city finishing the reblocking, saying they welcome whatever financial assistance and housing materials they could get so they could reconstruct their houses the soonest.

Rowena Suralta from Sitio Itom Yuta said the amount she would get would be set aside for housing materials like cement, nails, and galvanized iron sheets.

 She was among the 1,500 affected families who received her share of the P2-million financial assistance the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD)-7 distributed to Lorega-San Miguel fire victims last Friday.  —/RHM   (FREEMAN)