Cebu City Hall postponed its demolition of 81 illegal structures along Arellano Boulevard, Cebu City, for two weeks after reconsidering a request for a dialogue from over 100 settlers yesterday.
However, seven other houses owned by settlers like Cristita Navarosa of Sitio Silangan I, Barangay Tejero, were demolished by the Cebu City Prevention, Restoration, Order, Beautification, Enhancement (Probe) team.
“They did not believe they were not going to be demolished,” Cebu City Mayor Tomas Osmeña said.
Probe chief Raquel Arce said the mayor wanted to clear the sidewalks of Arellano Boulevard that were occupied by settlers.
Arce said the houses on top of the sidewalks contributed to traffic congestion in Arellano Boulevard and areas around Pier 3. She said the demolition was scheduled last July 4.
But Arce said they moved the demolition to another week in order to complete the 30-day notice to the residents in the area.
Leonilo M. Pilar, president of the Resident’s Association of Silangan I, said they were surprised that the demolition still pushed through.
He said Tejero Barangay Captain Boyek Galang promised them that he will ask City Hall not to proceed with the demolition.
Arce said contrary to claims by the settlers, there was no need for a court order since the area was public and under City Hall’s jurisdiction.
“We have no problems with being demolished. All we want is for the demolition to follow the legal process and for us to be properly relocated,” Pilar told reporters in Cebuano.
But Arce said relocation can only be applied to settlers and not to owners of structures used for business purposes.
The mayor said he will attend a dialogue with the settlers in order to resolve the problem. /USJ-R Intern Delta Dyrecka Letigio