Apas folk bugged by flooding, foul odor

Apas barangay captain Ramil Ayuman checks on the flood in the site that was earlier cleared of illegal settlers. (CDN PHOTO/JUNJIE MENDOZA)

Foul odor and flooding from sewers that overflowed after the owner of the hotly-contested property in barangay Apas in Cebu City are now bugging residents in the area.

The presence of stagnant water makes for breeding areas for disease-carrying pests, said Barangay Captain Ramil Ayuman. Residents fear an outbreak of dengue and leptospirosis could result if the water is not drained. “Grabe na kaayo ang baha labi na sa Lot 912,” said Ayuman. (Flooding has worsened especially in Lot 912.)

cease and desist order

Acting Cebu City Mayor Edgar Labella issued a cease and desist order late Friday afternoon to Althea Suico-Magat, the claimant of two parcels of land in sitio San Miguel which were recently cleared of informal settlers.

Labella’s order was to stop the unauthorized development of the property.

Magat brought in a bulldozer to level her property with filling material deposited on a portion of the lot causing the clogging of nearby canals, said Labella.

While Magat heeded Labella’s order, stagnant water remains pooled in portions of sitio San Miguel. Some residents have started using rubber boots to protect themselves while others placed improvised walkways to avoid stepping on the stagnant water.

Ayuman wrote City Health Officer Daisy Villa last Thursday to request for medical teams to visit their area and check on his people. The City Health Office, however, has yet to answer his request.

The Department of Engineering and Public Works (DEPW) sent personnel to drain the stagnant water but bringing in vehicles and equipment to the interior portion proved to be difficult.

Ayuman said they will seek permission from the owner of another lot where engineering personnel can set up their equipment.