CPA wants MRF, settlers out of Ermita lot

CEBU, Philippines - The Cebu Ports Authority (CPA) has given the city until July 15 to remove the Material Recovery Facility and the informal settlers on its property.

Lawyer Yusop J. Uckung, CPA Acting Deputy General Manager and concurrent Manager of the Legal Affairs Department, has sent communication to the city and Ermita Barangay Captain Antonio Flores asking the immediate removal of the MRF.

“Otherwise, we shall be constrained to take legal action, civil, criminal and/or administrative action. This is without prejudice to the option of this authority to remove the illegal encroachment in the valid exercise of its property rights under the law,”Uckung said.

The MRF is located across the Building Maintenance System office near the Senior Citizens Park.

It is being used to manage the waste of Barangay Ermita. Barangay officials appealed to CPA not to touch the MRF as they do not have other area to transfer it. Most of Ermita’s waste comes from Carbon Market.

Barangay officials in previous meetings with the CPA tried to convince that the authority can tap the MRF to manage the waste from its planned development.

The CPA wants the MRF removed including the fertilizer composting pits including the plants, which Uckung said, was introduced in the CPA property without the authority’s consent.

“In order to protect the property of the CPA from further encroachment by squatters and to preserve the same for eventual use to generate government revenues. The CPA has decided to fence the property where the foregoing facilities and plants are located,” Uckung said.

The CPA plans to develop the Compaña Maritima into a museum, among other developments the authority wants to pursue.  (FREEMAN)