Locals cry for road access

CEBU, Philippines – Residents in Sitio San Jose, Barangay San Isidro, San Fernando town are now up in arms against a construction firm owner who reportedly closed their emergency access road.

"Gihatagan tuod mi og agianan pero usa ra sad katawo ang masud. Kung naa kunoy emergency, unsaon naman lang na namo?" lamented Tata Barde, a resident.

Locals said a certain Lando Libor, who had recently bought the property, made a construction yard out of the area then fenced almost the entire property, thereby depriving around at least 20 families of access inside and outside their own properties.

Libor built an opening from the fence but it was only enough for a single person to pass. Barde said a bigger person would have to squeeze his way in to fit.

This path is the only access road of Barde and his neighbors.

Barangay San Fernando Council had already passed a resolution allowing for the release of P200,000 for the expropriation of the property. The move came after residents trooped to the barangay hall to air their problem.

But Barde said instead of letting the expropriation proceedings kick off, Barangay Captain Ranny Medicielo had reportedly allowed Libor to continue fencing his property, which is reportedly further preventing the people behind the fence from using the supposed access road, despite the absence of a fencing permit.

"Gireklamo na na namo sa barangay, pero ingon man ang kapitan nga ordinary ra man kuno na, di man semento," Barde said.

Barde said Libor had offered them to give a road right of way but when they asked that he give them a written agreement for it, he reportedly refused.

Barde said a written document is important considering that Libor is a private individual who could change his mind any time.

Meanwhile, Barde said he and his neighbors had agreed to wait for the barangay to launch the expropriation proceedings.

Barde said they would take on the problem one step at a time, but he could only pray that while their barangay officials are working out a solution, no emergency situation or disaster would befall in their neighborhood, otherwise they would all be trapped.

The FREEMAN tried to reach Libor for comment, to no avail.