Proposed moratorium on demolition gets people’s organizations’ support

CEBU, Philippines - People’s organizations and urban poor activists in Cebu City strongly support the passage of a proposed measure seeking for a moratorium of demolition until all essential requirements are complied with.

The proposed measure, however, was opposed by lawyer Collin Rosell, chief of the Division for the Welfare of the Urban Poor. Rosell argued that moratorium on demolition will not solve the problem of informal settlers living in danger zones.

“Basically, the housing board and the housing office do not support such kind of moratorium because basically we know already the problem. The problem is the backlog in terms of housing for the poor, for the homeless and underprivileged… If there will be a moratorium, will the people be safe in the danger area and accommodate and granted what is due to them like housing? Wala,” Rosell said.

According to Rosell, a moratorium would only worsen the backlog of 41,000 families waiting to be accommodated in the city’s socialized housing program.

Rosell, who is also a member of the Local Housing Board, tried to defend his position yesterday before the City Council but he was not given the opportunity by Councilor Alvin Dizon, proponent of the measure.

“I have heard enough from the speaker. Thank you and you are entitled to your own opinion. I can assure you, Atty. Rosell that we know our job as councilors of the city and you don’t have to lecture us on constitutional rights and housing rights. Thank you,” Dizon said as he interrupted Rosell.

Rosell insisted that he was only trying to share his expertise and was not bragging anything.

Dizon’s proposal earned the support from the members of the Alliance of People’s Organizations Working for Empowerment and Resettlement; Kilusan para sa Pambansang Demokrasya – Cebu; Sanlakas – Cebu; and Kaabag sa Sugbo.

Dizon, who chairs the committee on housing, was prompted to push for the moratorium of demolition following the recent incidents along Ma. Cristina Extension in Barangay Capitol Site and Doña Pepang Cemetery in Barangay Tejero.

“The demolitions were conducted despite the lack of proper relocation site and the requirements under Section 28 of Republic Act 7279 or the Urban Development and Housing Act were also disregarded which is a blatant violation of urban poor and housing rights,” he said.

Dizon wanted to emphasize that the responsible offices, such as DWUP, had not been responding to the requests for clarification and dialogue with the City Council. He said DWUP committed acts contrary to the pronouncements on the public hearing.

“It is within this context that this humble representation proposes for the imposition of a moratorium on eviction and demolitions on dwellings of urban poor families in public lands within the City of Cebu,” he said.

“The urban poor are not strangers to our city but they are our constituents who contribute significantly to the local economy and dynamism of the City of Cebu. They are not nuisance, eye sores, and burdens. They are humans with inherent dignity, thus, worthy of respect and recognition,” he added.

Dizon believes that the local government can claim as a developed city if the development processes that it has embarked are inclusive, participatory, human-rights based, sustainable and people-centered.

But Rosell said proposal is not only illegal but also unconstitutional.

“In UDHA, it was stated that moratorium is there to be implemented for three years. The three years moratorium in effectivity of UDHA does not cover danger zones in that law and in fact, it does not cover the new illegal structures… I don’t think that this particular proposition will go align with the national law,” Rosell said.

He said the real solution to the ongoing crisis is to grant the city mayor the emergency powers to utilize all resources to implement the housing development plans especially to the homeless.

Mayor Michael Rama described the proposal as reflective of the proponents’ “ignorance of the law.”

“Is the council telling that if there is going to be a disaster that is really beyond anyone’s imagination and when there is a moratorium then the mayor will just have to embrace his hands and do nothing? I think the council is overreacting,” Rama said. — (FREEMAN)