Notices sent to 7 companies to clear city waterways

Notices were sent yesterday to seven business establishments in Cebu City which were identified as having structures encroaching in waterways .

“We have invited them for conference meetings next week, on September 15, 16 and 17,” said lawyer Jose Daluz III, chief of the Cebu City Rivers Management Council (CCRMC).

These establishments are Ayala Center Cebu, Gaisano Main Mall and Colonnade Mall in Colon St., PLDT and Visayan Community Medical Center (VCMC) along Jones Ave, Prince Court Motel in barangay Mabolo and Lot 8 Condominium in F. Cabahug St.

Daluz said they will ask representatives of these establishments how they can help the city restore the three-meter easement along waterways.

If they refuse to cooperate, or don’t attend the meetings, said Daluz, the city government will send follow up notices.

The last resort will be to file a case in court.

Stubborn

“As much as possible, we need their cooperation because this is everybody’s concern. Some establishments have already expressed willingness to cooperate with the City like PLDT, Gaisano and Veco,” Daluz said.

He said this is the first time the Cebu city government is going after big business establishments violating the easement law.

He said the city is prioritizing them because these commercial entities have the resources to make corrective measures and will easily cooperate while illegal settlers remain stubborn.

Mahiga River is the focus of their efforts said Daluz, who also heads the Reduce, Eliminate Danger Zones (REDZ) project.

Flooding in Cebu City is worsened by waterways getting narrower with garbage and the obstruction of structures.

Daluz would not give details or show records of what kind of structures the seven companies owned that encroached in the Mahiga River.