City gov’t tears down illegal houses in Suba

The City Hall’s demolition team yesterday tore down 52 of 55 houses in barangay Suba for violating the required three-meter easement along the Guadalupe River.

The Squatters Prevention, Encroachment Elimination Division personnel spent about 7 hours (past 8am to 3pm) in clearing the area but were able to demolish only 52 of those ordered torn down by Mayor Tomas Osmeña since last April 22.

SPEED chief Vicente Mercado said they found a hard time demolishing the three big houses because these are made of concrete materials.

There were verbal altercations between some residents and the members of the demolition team but there was no resistance on the part of the owners of the houses, said Mercado.

Mercado said the city would not provide any relocation site or assistance to the affected families because what they did was illegal.

Mercado also revealed yesterday that SPEED has scheduled 10 demolitions this month in different areas in the city where houses, stores, and structures have violated the three-meter river easement rule, and have encroached into public roads.  — Wenna A. Berondo/RAE