More than 50 obstructing structures, houses cleared

CEBU, Philippines — The clearing operations done by Cebu City’s PROBE team this week saw over 50 structures, mostly houses, finally cleared.

The team headed by Aderson Comar had three clearing operations in different areas in Cogon Ramos, Lorega-San Miguel, and Sambag 1.

At F. Ramos Extension under Barangay Cogon Ramos, 11 houses were cleared, according to the city’s Public Information Office report yesterday.

Of the total houses cleared, nine of the families already have relocation sites for them while the others did not qualify as the place was just rented out.

After clearing the area, PROBE said, the road in the area can be utilized soon after the clearing of the illegal structures.

At Lorega-San Miguel, there were 43 structures in the waterways cleared in line with the recovery of the three-meter easement.

Most of these structures, accordingly, are no longer being used as dwellings as the families that used to stay there are among the recipients of the units of the medium-rise building of the Cebu City government also in Lorega.

One store on Urgello St. in Sambag 1 was also cleared with its owner giving a nod to it as it clearly blocked the way.

The Cebu City government headed by Mayor Michael Rama is working doubly hard to recover the sidewalks and the three-meter easements in rivers for the safety of the Cebuanos. — (FREEMAN)