43 informal settlers get relocation

CEBU, Philippines —  At least 43 of 400 informal settlers set to be displaced by a P6-billion infrastructure project in Barangay Punta Engaño, Lapu-Lapu City have already received lot assignments for relocation.

Cindi King-Chan, chairperson of the City Tourism, Cultural and Historical Affairs Commission in Lapu-Lapu City, said the project developer provided the relocation site for the affected residents.

“We are happy that the developer is providing relocation site for our informal settlers,” Chan said.

The private developer has already started clearing the area of informal settlers for its P6 billion mixed-use complex in Sitios Malingin and Kalipayan in Punta Engaño.

The development project includes a beachfront hotel, condominium, and condotel.

“Soon there will be beachfront hotel, condominium, condotels, swimming pools and shopping arcades in that place,” said Edmund Dejaresco, in-charge of the developer’s clearing and relocation department.

Dejaresco led the initial awarding of lot assignments to 43 informal settlers last Saturday. Each affected resident signed the individual deed of assignment. He said more batches will be given their lot assignments in the coming days.

Earlier, Lapu-Lapu City Mayor Junard Chan asked the private developer to ensure that the affected families are provided with relocation.

Dejaresco said each of the 400 families will be given for free a 30 square-meter lot as relocation site. They will also receive an average of P15,000 disturbance fee; will be assisted in demolishing their houses; will be provided with moving-out transportation, and will be assisted by carpenters in rebuilding their new home at the relocation sites.

He said relocation sites are in Cordova, Barangay Sudtungan in Lapu-Lapu City and tentatively in Subabasbas also in the city.

They are already done with the drainage system in Cordova and now on-going in Sudtungan wherein there will be common comfort rooms, bathrooms and hand-pumped water supply.

Dejaresco added that this tourism hub will definitely spur more jobs to local residents and will attract more tourists to the city.

Punta Engan~o will soon be a major tourist hub in the city and in Cebu, as foreign-based hotel are simultaneously rising in the area.

 Meanwhile, the city will hold its “Hotel and Resort’s Fair” where tourist hub facilities will announce their promo day and will be giving a discount to as low as 50 percent, in their accommodation and services.

 Mayor Chan said that the trade fair is in line with TCHAC’s launching of “Balik Turismo” on October 17 at the Hoops Dome. This will be participated by all hotels and resorts in the city.

“Dunay mga discounts, it’s like a trade fair, all the hotels will sell their products, like accommodations and services at a lower price, including dive shops and island hopping boats,” the mayor said, emphasizing that tourism is the city’s bread and butter.

In a press statement, the mayor said that senior citizens and minors are included in the guest package.

Although he said that they are still waiting for the approval from Department of the Interior and Local government and the Department of Tourism.

“Once we go to the hotel and resorts, it’s a family, naa jud ang mga lola ug mga anak, the time nga maka-relax ang pamilya,” he said.

Tourists will be staying in hotels or resorts. Hotels will be getting guests’ data as they implement standard health and safety protocols.

“As I said very low rates, ubos gyud kayo ni, tanan hotel sa Lapu-Lapu,” the mayor said.

Chan said that this is a good opportunity for those who would like to stay in a 5-star hotel in the city. — FPL (FREEMAN)