Owners block vendors, tricycles from village entrance

CEBU, Philippines - Tricycle drivers, siomai vendors, and other small merchants at a property located at the entrance of Sunrise Village in Barangay Pardo, Cebu City have decried the decision of the property owners to cordon off the area.

A notice posted there says they would have to use another entrance and exit point, located about 800 meters away.

The people affected, however, said the closure of the entrance at Sunrise Village has caused them inconvenience, not to mention the alternative route is narrow.

“Dili okay akong pag-negosyo… na-apektuhan gyud akong panginabuhi unya layo kaayo ang lain nga agianan,” Rolando Navarro, a tricycle driver for four years, told The Freeman.

Nicolson Madali and Joseph Masecampo, owners of Sunrise Village, said they were forced to barricade the entrance because the people concerned have been using the 144-square meter property without rental or compensation.

They said it is the village that has been paying taxes for at least 50 years.

“Binebenta namin at a very affordable price, gusto namin para sa villagers,” Madali said, but the people concerned reportedly took no action since last year when they started negotiations.

They said they barricaded the entrance to remind those concerned that they do not own the property.

“We are not after nga mu-close ini… we just want to settle it, but they did not want it, mao nay real reason,” Madali added.

Madali and Masecampo’s lawyer, Frank Malilong, Jr., said they have sent a letter to the homeowners association for a final demand to pay for compensation.

He said they are willing to file charges against those who will destroy the barricade. (FREEMAN)