CEBU, Philippines — The Cebu City government’s Prevention Restoration Order Beautification Enhancement (PROBE) team is not allowing further delay in the demolition of the dwellings of 12 families that violate the three-meter easement of Estero de Parian.
In a report by the City Hall Public Information Office, PROBE Officer-in-charge Aderson Comar said they are rescheduling the clearing operations on October 11 and would allow no further extension of the schedule.
The City’s Disaster Risk Reduction Management Office had already issued notices last week to these families, whose homes are located at the pier area and under the jurisdiction of barangays Tejero and San Roque.
Comar said they have been tasked to remove the structures for some time already moving further the schedule is no longer allowable.
Task Force Gubat sa Baha Chief Roy Cimatu recommended the immediate clearing of these structures to Mayor Michael Rama.
The clearing operation's implementation, though, had taken some time as the Division for the Welfare of the Urban Poor (DWUP) is still putting in place the affected families' relocation site, which is in sitio Nangkaville, Brgy. Quiot.
Meanwhile, Mabolo Barangay Captain Frank Gajudo assured they would be putting in place bigger culverts for the drainage system in Sitio Holy Name as a measure to help solve the long time flooding problem in the area.
During a meeting with Task Force Gubat sa Baha’s Technical Working Group, he said they are putting this matter as “urgent”.
He acknowledged that appropriate actions should be done as soon as possible to ease the long-time problem of flooding in the area, which he said is getting worse lately.
Although the City’s Department of Engineering and Public Works (DEPW) already did declogging and desilting activities at the Subangdaku River, they were not enough as river has become narrow.
Another obstacle, he said, is that the building structure of establishment was built above the drainage system, which is now hard to clean.
Gajudo likewise said that a steel matting under a house near the said structure is also an adding to the problem.
TF-Gubat sa Baha Deputy Chief Commander Jefferson Omandam, on the other hand, said he is recommending for the clearing of the area and the non-renewal of the establishment's business permit.
“ Ako, I will recommend it has to be demolish kay it is a national ug city concern. They cannot operate kay there is an existing violation. I will recommend pod nga way renewal sa business permit. This is already dangerous. Dili man pwede ing-ana lang,” he said.
“Mag-clearing ta kay nakalapas man sa three-meter easement. Ilawom sa building ngitngit kaayo,” also said Engr. Norman del Mar of DEPW. (CEBU NEWS)