CEBU, Philippines — At least 4,000 families whose houses are within the three-meter easement zones will be relocated by the Cebu City government.
Lawyer Jerone Castillo, special assistant to Mayor Michael Rama, said they have already completed the assessment of families to be affected in the ongoing efforts to recover the easements of the rivers and other waterways in the city.
Based on the assessment, Castillo said, the 4,000 families are living within the no-build zones. According to Castillo, the illegal structures will have to be cleared necessitating relocation of the affected families.
The city government has initially identified the families affected by easement recovery as beneficiaries of the medium-rise housing units the city will construct in partnership with the private sector.
In fact, the city government has already announced that 300 units of medium-rise buildings will be built soon as a result of the mayor’s investment begging last year.
Castillo, co-chairman of the city’s Task Force Gubat sa Baha, also said that they are closely coordinating with the Pag-IBIG Fund and the Department of Human Settlements and Urban Development on the matter.
Atty. Collin Rosell, secretary to the mayor, said the affected families will undergo further evaluation to determine their financial capacity to avail of the housing program. Rosell noted that some of the families living within the easement zones are actually earning more than enough.
The city government is working double time to clear the illegal structures within the rivers’ three-meter easement to address flooding. The initiative is part of the mayor’s vision to achieve a Singapore-like Cebu City.
Meanwhile, Rama has clarified that his executive order on Oplan Likay sa Landslide is still in effect. According to the mayor, he has not lifted the order that prohibits quarry operations in the mountain barangays of the city.
Rama issued the clarification after receiving reports that quarry operations in the upland areas have resumed after the Cebu City Environment and Natural Resources Office (CCENRO) allegedly allowed those with permits.
Earlier, the city information office reported that CCENRO head Arlie Gesta allowed those quarry operators who have complied with the necessary requirements and permits to resume their operations.
The Freeman tried but failed to get Gesta’s comment as he was in a meeting with the mayor as of press time. — FPL (FREEMAN)