Evacuees refuse to leave CICC

Fire victims repair their shanties at the CICC in this file photo. The fire victims are still taking shelter at CICC for the last 10 months.

Fire victims repair their shanties at the CICC in this file photo.

THE displaced residents of Mantuyong creek who are temporarily staying at the Cebu International Convention Center (CICC) grounds were again ordered by the Housing and Urban Development Office (Hudo) of the Mandaue City government to vacate after they refused to leave the area.

The creek dwellers said that a non-government organization (NGO) that was referred by Hudo won’t allow them to stay at the housing site unless they would render community projects for two years.

Dario Peralta, one of the creek dwellers, said most of them were having a hard time looking for a place to rent as they have to pay a downpayment and an advanced deposit, while other rooms for rent won’t accept renters with children.

The creek dwellers were called by Hudo yesterday to their office to receive food packs as assistance.

Hudo officer Tony Pet Juanico said he had already talked with the NGO, which is managed by priests, to accommodate the creek dwellers as they will be moved out of the CICC grounds.

But according to the creek dwellers, the NGO did not follow what they have agreed with Juanico; thus the latter is set to call for another meeting with the NGO together with the representative of the creek dwellers to make things clear.

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