Council asks Mayor Rama to negotiate with lot owner

CEBU, Philippines — The Cebu City Council has passed a resolution urging the Office of the City Mayor to negotiate with the property owner of the area in Sitio Gemelina, Barangay Quiot, where 53 families will be affected by a looming demolition.

Last Wednesday, a letter signed by Corazon Susas, president of Gemelina Hills Urban Poor Association, was endorsed to the City Council, bumping up a request for action taken from the executive department.

Cited in the letter was a similar letter of plea sent last December 14 on the issue of the 53 families.

“As mentioned in the letter, a Writ of Demolition has already been served, and we have asked from your good office ample time to settle things and have humbly asked for assistance as well as a relocation site,” their letter read.

They also pleaded for Mayor Michael Rama to help them end their “worries and sleepless nights”.

During the discussion, majority floor leader Councilor Jocelyn Pesquera raised a corollary motion referring the said letter to the Division for the Welfare of the Urban Poor (DWUP).

As the discussion progressed, minority floor leader Councilor Nestor Archival Sr. also raised a corollary motion requesting Mayor Rama to hear the "voice" of the 53 families by requesting the owner of the property to suspend the order of the demolition and provide the relocation site first.

The said corollary motions were approved by the council. (CEBU NEWS)