The demolition of shanties on Mandaue City’s side of the Mahiga Creek can now resume after the court denied the residents’ petition for an injunction.
Lawyer Aquilino Felicitas was unable to convince the court to halt the demolition after he failed to present a certification from the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) declaring the target lot as alienable and disposable.
“There is no more hope in this government. All of them have already been paid,” shouted Lolit Felicano who was frustrated by the decision of Mandaue Regional Trial Court Judge Teresita Galanida of Branch 56.
The petition for injunction was heard yesterday morning.
Some Mahiga Creek residents said they would continue to occupy the area and fight the city’s demolition team when they return.
Mandaue City Legal Officer Giovanni Tianero told Cebu Daily News the court decision was proof that the city government did the right thing when it started taking down houses in sitio Mahayag in barangay Subangdaku on Tuesday.
Water from a fire truck was used to douse protesting residents who formed a human barricade in front of the sitio near the Mahiga Creek.
“This shows that we are making the right decision to clear the danger zones,” Tianero said.
Mandaue city said the houses had to be removed to mitigate flood.
The Mandaue and Cebu city governments will jointly work to dredge the creek after it is cleared of occupants.
About 4,000 families occupy Mandaue City’s side of the Mahiga Creek.
About 1,200 were already removed with some relocating to a 6.5 hectare housing project site in barangay Paknaan.
Tony Pet Juanico, head of the Housing and Urban Development Office (HUDO), said he already requested for a P60 million outlay in next year’s budget for the release of cash assistance to the remaining 2,800 families.
“This is one way to encourage residents to leave the danger zones,” Juanico said.
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