Woman, daughter hurt in Mahiga demolition

CEBU, Philippines – A woman and her daughter were hurt when the Mandaue City Legal Office implemented forced demolition of houses in Sitio Mahayag, Barangay Subangdaku at around 9 a.m. yesterday.

Hurt were Elma Remedio, 51, and her daughter Alvi Remedio, 21, who were among the 153 families that were affected by the demolition conducted in the sitio which lies along the Mahiga Creek of Barangay Subangdaku.

Both mother and daughter were hit by stone in their heads after their neighbors threw stones at approaching members of the demolition team.

They were immediately treated by the Emergency Rescue Unit Foundation whose ambulance was on standby in the area.

The families affected were members of the Sitio Mahayag Alliance Structures Household, said its president Leopoldo Chavez Jr.

Chavez, who is also the federation president of all urban poor dwellers in the city, was among those who voluntarily tore down his house yesterday.

Ignored?

It was learned that the notices to vacate the area were served to residents in 2012 yet but they just reportedly ignored them.

Carlo Ybañez of the City Legal Office, who was tasked to conduct the demolition, said it was in June 4 this year that the affected families were sent demolition order again but they asked to delay it as they promised to personally tear down their houses.

But several months have passed and still they did not heed the call, thus the demolition pushed through yesterday morning.

Ybañez also said that Bureau of Fire Protection personnel were forced to aim their water hoses to affected residents when some of them blocked and were throwing stones to the demolition team.

Meanwhile, Housing Urban Development Office  chief Tonypet Juanico in a separate interview said that not all of the 153 families who were affected in yesterday's demolition are beneficiaries of the 6.5-hectare relocation site in Barangay Paknaan as most are hesitant to leave the place which is considered a danger zone.

Assistance

Since the relocation site is already full of beneficiaries, he still urged other affected families  to sign a payroll so they could avail of the financial assistance coming from the city government .

However, Juanico clarified that they can still help facilitate financial assistance but only to the structure owners as the renters and extended families are exempted of the city's financial assistance or livelihood program.

Juanico said that only affected families who already lived in the area from 1992 or earlier will be able to avail of the financial assistance.

The aid is equal to minimum wage times 60 days as stipulated under RA 7279, while those who lived beyond 1992 may avail of the livelihood program from the city.

"Busa ako bitaw nang gi-ingnan ilang presidente nga si Chavez nga dili na sila mohuwat pa nga i-demolish sila, kay ready for occupancy naman ang lugar alang nila but ang problema gusto ani nila kay maghuwat pa man nga ma-demolish sila,"Juanico said.

Although he asked the relocatees to be patient while they are still working with the drainage and other mitigating measures, he assured them that the relocation site is indeed ready for occupancy.

The FREEMAN learned that some of these beneficiaries are hesitant to transfer to the relocation site because of the ongoing site development in the area which they still considered as muddy.

They also claimed that they will be expelled if they fail to pay the monthly mortgage for three months.

Promises

Most of the affected families are also not in good terms with Chavez as he reportedly kept of promising their houses would not be subjected to demolition until such time that the development at the relocation site is finished.

Also, they also questioned the properties of their president and alleged that all his service utility vehicles were obtained out of the funds of the urban poor.

They also questioned the cost of the housing unit which has ballooned from P96,000 to P150,000 as that they said they cannot pay this off in a span of 25 years.

In the meantime, others are still waiting for the P17,000 financial assistance so they can use it to leave the place.

Juanico yesterday said after Sitio Mahayag, other sitios surrounding the Mahiga Creek will also be demolished soon until the area will be cleared.

This, as the illegal structures along the creek have been the cause of flooding in the area as authorities noted.