Help settlers relocate, UP Cebu admin urged

WHERE TO? Settler’s living along the stretch of the University of the Philippines – Cebu (UP-Cebu) near a pedestrian overpass in barangay Lahug, Cebu City failed to secure a promise of relocation plan from the school. (Tonee Despojo)

CEBU City Hall officials called on the administration of the University of the Philippines-Cebu (UP-Cebu) to include the relocation of settlers in its property in its development plans.

“The last meeting we had didn’t go well. We want to ask from them the inventory on who are these settlers affected and if they push through, what is their plan for the settlers,” Cebu City Councilor Mary Ann delos Santos said.

Santos, a former barangay captain of Lahug, said they want to resolve the relocation of the settlers in another stakeholders meeting after an Aug. 9 meeting between UP Cebu officials and the settlers at the South Road Properties (SRP).

UP-Cebu plans to build a high school building in a lot occupied by the settlers. It said the Cebu City government should handle the relocation of the settlers.

But while they plan to improve their educational system, UP should also include in their schemes the fate of the settlers, delos Santos said.

“That speaks contrary to the vision and mission of UP. You just can’t let these people get out right then and there. Some of them have been there since forever. They are also human beings,” delos Santos said.

Collin Rosell, head of the city’s Division for the Welfare of the Urban Poor (DWUP) is positive that the school will include plans for the settlers before any other action is done.

“Our actions show what we are made of. I believe they (UP) have a solution. UP professors and students have a good foundation. Part of their education is how to take care of the underprivileged,” Rosell said.

UP is invoking Republic Act 7279 or the Urban Development and Housing Act of 1992 as the basis for evicting the settlers.

Section 28 of this law states that eviction or demolition of structures, though discouraged, may be allowed if government infrastructure projects with available funding are about to be implemented.

But Rosell said each project proponent should include relocation as a consideration.

“It’s important that they (UP) do this knowing the situation in the site. If you have a project, you also have to take consideration of its impact,” Rosell said.