CEBU, Philippines – The Mandaue City Legal Office has started to implement the demolition yesterday at Sitio Mahusay in Barangay Subangdaku.
However, upon the request of the affected families that they will voluntarily tear down their houses so they could still use the materials, they were again given until this Wednesday to demolish their own structures.
Carlo Ybañez, the administrative officer of the City Legal Office and supervising officer of the demolition team, said that they gave in to the request of the affected families but will push through with the demolition on Thursday if they fail to voluntarily tear down their houses.
“Kami na ang mo-enforce sa demolition kun dugay-dugayon man gani nila ang pagpangguba,” Ybañez said.
During the start of yesterday’s demolition, around 30 personnel of the demolition team and 20 personnel of the Mandaue City Police Office were stationed along the stretch of the Mahiga Creek just in case tension may crop up.
There are around 152 houses subject for demolition in Sitio Mahusay and the city government targeted that they can clear the area from informal settlers before the month of November ends.
During yesterday’s demolition, only three families have yet voluntarily torn down their houses.
Housing and Urban Poor Development Officer Tonypet Juanico for his part said they are just looking for the welfare of the affected families, with danger posed on them while they continue to live in the city’s danger zones.