If they dismantle homes on their own; City Hall to give P20T aid to Duljo Fatima residents

CEBU, Philippines - The Cebu City government will give P20,000 each to 71 families in Barangay Duljo Fatima if they volunteer to dismantle their homes, whether they were fire victims or not, for a reblocking that would set aside space for a road.

Division for the Welfare of the Urban Poor Chief Genevieve Alcoseba said that instead of the proposed P12,000 subsidy rental, Mayor Tomas Osmeña and Executive Assistant to the Mayor Francisco “Bimbo” Fernandez agreed that City Hall would instead give P20,000 in financial assistance.

Alcoseba said that according to the Urban Development and Housing Act, the government is mandated to give “disturbance fee or any financial assistance” to the urban poor who would be affected by any government project.

Fire victims, she said, get the same amount from the government.

She clarified, though, that only actual occupants or the structure owner, who should be residing in the area, would receive the financial assistance.

She also said that those who would be included in the reblocking are only those residing in the area for at least 10 years.

“Kung renta lang ka dili gyud ka ma-qualify. You should be an actual occupant. Ugaling lang  karon is mabalhin lang imong area. Kung sa una diri ka dapit sa creek…karon ibalhin naka sa tarong nga area; but still makasabot ra man pud ang balaod ana,” Alcoseba said.

She said they cannot prevent residents from building temporary shelters, but she asks that they only light materials so the structures would be easy to remove once the space for the construction road has been measured already.

“Kay simbako maigo na pud na sa dalan nga atong pagabuhaton, then another demolition na sad atong buhaton, another na pud pagguba, which is not practical,” Alcoseba said.

She assured that DWUP would do its best to process the P20,000 as soon as possible.

“Diha pud naglaom ang kinabuhi sa atong mga kaigsuonan nga nasunogan,” she said.

She also said that the city would assist those who do not have the capacity to dismantle their homes on their own.  (FREEMAN)